Eric Tinkler was right. Free State Stars do know how to grind out a result, as he pointed out earlier this week, and Ea Lla Koto proved it yet again as they held Tinkler's Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw in front of a decent crowd on a chilly night here last night.
Relegation-threatened Stars have not won a game this year, but have not lost either - the side registering their fourth straight draw yesterday which puts them on 22 points.
Stars had to come from behind to secure a point, Moeketsi Sekola netting his ninth goal of the season seven minutes before the break to cancel out Kermit Erasmus's eighth-minute strike.
After four straight wins, the Buccaneers came into this game believing they could win their remaining matches and claim the title. They knew there was little room for error but they simply did not do enough to win this one. Pirates were desperate for a win to further boost their confidence ahead of Saturday's Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs.
But Stars were stubborn at the back as they put their bodies on the line to block some of the long-range shots Pirates players were forced to take due to their inability to find a chink in the opposition's armour. Bucs were without lethal striker Lehlohonolo Majoro, who is one booking away from suspension and would have been in danger of missing Saturday's tie had he played and picked one yellow card last night.
Erasmus, though, continued to do the business in Majoro's absence, the former SuperSport United man coolly slotting home the opening goal with his left foot after eight minutes as Bucs made the most of their early dominance.
Stars finally got the equaliser seven minutes before the break after a great finish from Sekola.
l Chippa United were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City.
Bucs drop points at Ea Lla Koto
Eric Tinkler was right. Free State Stars do know how to grind out a result, as he pointed out earlier this week, and Ea Lla Koto proved it yet again as they held Tinkler's Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw in front of a decent crowd on a chilly night here last night.
Relegation-threatened Stars have not won a game this year, but have not lost either - the side registering their fourth straight draw yesterday which puts them on 22 points.
Stars had to come from behind to secure a point, Moeketsi Sekola netting his ninth goal of the season seven minutes before the break to cancel out Kermit Erasmus's eighth-minute strike.
After four straight wins, the Buccaneers came into this game believing they could win their remaining matches and claim the title. They knew there was little room for error but they simply did not do enough to win this one. Pirates were desperate for a win to further boost their confidence ahead of Saturday's Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs.
But Stars were stubborn at the back as they put their bodies on the line to block some of the long-range shots Pirates players were forced to take due to their inability to find a chink in the opposition's armour. Bucs were without lethal striker Lehlohonolo Majoro, who is one booking away from suspension and would have been in danger of missing Saturday's tie had he played and picked one yellow card last night.
Erasmus, though, continued to do the business in Majoro's absence, the former SuperSport United man coolly slotting home the opening goal with his left foot after eight minutes as Bucs made the most of their early dominance.
Stars finally got the equaliser seven minutes before the break after a great finish from Sekola.
l Chippa United were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City.
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