Orlando Pirates won for only the second time in their last seven league matches but were still well off a place in the top eight after beating Ajax Cape Town 2-1 last night.
It was a narrow success for the Buccaneers, who allowed Ajax back into the game after looking comfortably set when they went 2-0 ahead just after half-time.
Ajax fought back in the final 20 minutes, with Prince Nxumalo scoring and then thumping a header against the crossbar in the last two minutes as they came inches away from sneaking a draw.
Both clubs looked like boxers out on their feet at the end of the game, even though it was not played with too high a tempo.
A howling goalkeeping error from the usually reliable Anssi Jaakkola handed Pirates their opening goal after 20 minutes as he tried to trap a back pass from Rivaldo Coetzee but watched in horror as the ball trickled under his foot into the back of the net.
Five minutes later Thabo Rakhale was narrowly wide as he got first to a Thabo Matlaba cross.
Mpho Makola botched a chance in front of goal when he completely missed his shot in front of goal and Ntsikelelo Nyauza was denied a first ever career goal by a sharp reflex save as Jaakkola sought to redeem his earlier error.
But Pirates got a deserved second when Thamsanqa Gabuza unselfishly set up Sifiso Myeni to score from close range a minute after the restart.
Pirates were bossing the game when all of a sudden a long ball into the defence was not properly dealt with by Edwin Gyimah and Nxumalo used his strength to first dispose of the defender and then thump home a first goal for Ajax.
That ignited the away side and a corner from Erwin Isaacs two minutes from the end saw Nxumalo come narrowly close to forcing the draw.
l AT the Tuks Stadium, University of Pretoria blew a chance to move off relegation place by allowing Free State Stars to come back and draw 2-2. Thabo Mnyamane scored a brace for AmaTuks before Danny Venter and Sello Japhta pulled Ea Lla Koto level and earn them a worthy away draw.
Bloemfontein Celtic drew 1-1 with SuperSport United, while Polokwane City inflicted a heavy 3-1 beating on bottom side Maritzburg United.
Keeper blunder helps Bucs win
Orlando Pirates won for only the second time in their last seven league matches but were still well off a place in the top eight after beating Ajax Cape Town 2-1 last night.
It was a narrow success for the Buccaneers, who allowed Ajax back into the game after looking comfortably set when they went 2-0 ahead just after half-time.
Ajax fought back in the final 20 minutes, with Prince Nxumalo scoring and then thumping a header against the crossbar in the last two minutes as they came inches away from sneaking a draw.
Both clubs looked like boxers out on their feet at the end of the game, even though it was not played with too high a tempo.
A howling goalkeeping error from the usually reliable Anssi Jaakkola handed Pirates their opening goal after 20 minutes as he tried to trap a back pass from Rivaldo Coetzee but watched in horror as the ball trickled under his foot into the back of the net.
Five minutes later Thabo Rakhale was narrowly wide as he got first to a Thabo Matlaba cross.
Mpho Makola botched a chance in front of goal when he completely missed his shot in front of goal and Ntsikelelo Nyauza was denied a first ever career goal by a sharp reflex save as Jaakkola sought to redeem his earlier error.
But Pirates got a deserved second when Thamsanqa Gabuza unselfishly set up Sifiso Myeni to score from close range a minute after the restart.
Pirates were bossing the game when all of a sudden a long ball into the defence was not properly dealt with by Edwin Gyimah and Nxumalo used his strength to first dispose of the defender and then thump home a first goal for Ajax.
That ignited the away side and a corner from Erwin Isaacs two minutes from the end saw Nxumalo come narrowly close to forcing the draw.
l AT the Tuks Stadium, University of Pretoria blew a chance to move off relegation place by allowing Free State Stars to come back and draw 2-2. Thabo Mnyamane scored a brace for AmaTuks before Danny Venter and Sello Japhta pulled Ea Lla Koto level and earn them a worthy away draw.
Bloemfontein Celtic drew 1-1 with SuperSport United, while Polokwane City inflicted a heavy 3-1 beating on bottom side Maritzburg United.
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