ONCE again against a Soweto giant at home, AmaZulu contrived to wrench defeat from the jaws of a draw.

Kermit Erasmus's stoppage time goal consigned Usuthu to a 2-1 Absa Premiership defeat, leaving them rooted at the bottom of the table on a mere nine points.

Orlando Pirates were the better side on the night but the hosts deserved a point, only to be let down by poor defending.

With Robyn Johannes playing in an unfamiliar holding midfield role, it was expected of Pirates to run rings around AmaZulu and that they did.

What Johannes lacks in pace, he made up with superb positioning and bone-crunching tackles.

Pirates also dished out their fair share, but the majority of them were clean, despite some overzealous officiating by the normally consistent Phillip Tinyani.

All eyes were on the obnoxious but highly talented Mbulelo Mabizela and, for a change, he channelled his unsavoury arrogance into a committed performance. He capped it with a neatly tucked header in the 67th minute from a superb Marc van Heerden freekick. While most of the play was enterprising, something that delighted the decent crowd, chances were few and far between.

After all, it was Pirates' first game in Durban since Senzo Meyiwa's passing in October last year and the fans got their money's worth.

If it can be termed as a goalscoring opportunity, Siyabonga Sangweni came closest to breaking the deadlock, but his tamely floated header did not trouble Energy Murambadoro.

AmaZulu did not create much and when they did, Pirates' offside trap had them in check.

A sinister physical tone that started with a heavy Oupa Manyisa tackle on Bornwell Mwape late in the first half emerged as both sides decided no quarter should be taken.

The physicality took its toll on AmaZulu as the ineffective Bongani Ndulula cried off injured after he fell heavily in the box after a tackle.

Then there was the frenetic three minutes when the sides exchanged goals, with AmaZulu's being greeted by near silence while Lehlohonolo Majoro's delightful chip - which drew Bucs level - brought the stadium to light.

Murambadoro was culpable as he was caught in no-man's land. However, there was nothing he could do about Erasmus' perfect 90th minute finish.