Orlando Pirates were held to a goalless draw by ten-man Richards Bay FC in DStv Premiership action on Saturday evening.
Richard Ofori's suspension opened the door for Siyabonga Mpontshane, who made his first start for Pirates this season while Olisa Ndah replaced Thabiso Monyane, who was sent off against Sekhukhune United on Tuesday.
Read: Pirates frustrated by 10-man Richards Bay
The Buccaneers had a promising start and almost went ahead courtesy of a first-time header in the box by Ndah following a corner-kick, but goalkeeper Jamal Magoola parried.
Pirates earned a string of corners and caused the Natal Rich Boyz all sorts of problems as Nkosinathi Sibisi nodded a pin-point delivery into the six-yard area wide of target.
After a relatively slow start, Richards Bay came alive and worked a save off Mpontshane through a looping header in the area by Somila Ntsundwana following a free-kick.
It became an open affair towards halftime with Monnapule Saleng's surging run down the left resulting in a shot that struck Magoola before flashing the side-netting.
Richards Bay would play the rest of the match with ten players after Siyanda Msani got his marching orders for a crunching challenge on Ndah on the stroke of halftime.
The Buccaneers remained dominant following the break and came close again through a first-time attempt at the far post from Ndah following a ball in.
Pitso Dladla's outfit battled to control the host as the final exchanges beckoned and Magoola parried Saleng's powerful header away for a corner.
From the resultant corner, Richards Bay then produced a goal-line clearance to smother Ndah's glancing header at the near post of the six-yard area, moments before Tapelo Xoki and Terrence Dzvukamanja entered the park.
Pirates continued to find openings in the closing seconds and saw Dzvukamanja head a cross from Deon Hotto wide of the near post as all square it finished.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Mpontshane, Maela, Sibisi, Ndah, Mosele, Timm, Shandu, Hotto, Ndlondlo, Saleng, Lepasa
Subs: Chaine, Dzvukamanja, Nga, Mako, Xoki, Dlamini, Makaringe, Makgaka, Motshwari
Richards Bay: Magoola, Maphathe, Mabua, Mcineka, Nyauza, Mabaso, Barns, Mathebula, Ntsundwana, Memela, Msani.
Subs: Jacobs, Mthethwa, Majadibodu, Mthembu, Mdabuka, Makateng, Mbuthuma, Zungu, Hlongwa
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