Orlando Pirates 2-2 Stellenbosch FC: Mosele debut goal not enough as Bucs drop points in PSL opener

Ten-man Orlando Pirates let a lead slip in their 2-2 draw with Stellenbpsch FC in their opening match of the new PSL season at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Deon Hotto and Goodman Mosele both scored for the Buccaneers, while Stellies netted through Waseem Isaacs and Judas Moseamedi in a match that saw Ntsikelelo Nyauza pick up a red card in the first-half. 

Interim coaches Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi made four changes to the team which faced and lost to Swallows FC in the MTN8 clash last weekend and this was Pirates' first match since Josef Zinnbauer's departure. 

While coach Steve Barker named an offensive team with attackers Isaacs, Ashley Du Preez, Stanley Dimgba, and Junior Mendieta all starting for Stellenbosch, who were looking to secure their first-ever win over Bucs.

Stellies got off to the perfect start as they broke the deadlock just two minutes into the match with Isaacs scoring with a deflected shot from outside the box to hand Stellenbosh a 1-0 lead and Mendieta grabbed an assist.

The visitors then sat back and allowed Bucs to control of the match with Hotto forcing goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt into an easy save with a header, before the hosts were awarded a free-kick in a promising area after Puleng Tlolane was fouled.

Hotto then hit the back of the net with a stunning strike from the resultant free-kick to level matters at 1-1 in the 18th minute as his shot curled into the top corner of the net leaving a hapless Langeveldt with no chance.

The Buccaneers were now determined to take the lead and Kabelo Dlamini had a chance to make it two goals in as many matches having netted against Swallows, but the playmaker's low strike was well-saved by Langeveldt.

Pirates suffered a blow as they were reduced to 10 players following  Nyauza's dismissal after first throwing an elbow and then stomping on Du Preez four minutes before half-time, and the score 1-1 at the interval.

Davids and Ncikazi made a tactical change prior to the start of the second-half - pulling out Dlamini and introducing winger Vincent Pule, who was able to make an immediate impact by grabbing an assist.

Pule flicked Hotto's corner-kick into Mosele's path and the South Africa under-23 international headed the ball past Langeveldt in the blind spot to hand Pirates a 2-1 lead in the 49th minute with the youngster marking his official debut for Bucs with a goal.

Stellies had to find a way to take advantage of their numerical superiority over Bucs and they began playing crosses into the hosts' box in search for Moseamedi and the substitute was also able to mark his competitive debut for his new team with a goal.

The former Maritzburg United center forward, who had replaced Isaacs, headed home a well-weighted cross from Du Preez to make it 2-2 with Ghana's finest keeper Ofori well-beaten five minutes before the hour-mark. 

The Buccaneers did not sit back despite being numerically disadvantaged and they pushed forward in numbers as they looked to restore their lead which saw Terrence Dzvukamanja force Langeveldt into two comfortable saves.

However, the last chance of the match went to the visitors with the ball falling kindly for an unmarked Devon Titus in the box, but the youngster miskicked the ball completely and ultimately, the match ended in a 2-2 draw.