Orlando pirates vs supersport united

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 11: Happy Jele of Pirates and Evans Rusike of Supersport United during the Absa Premiership match between SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates at Mbombela Stadium on April 11, 2018 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)

PSL: Title-chasing Orlando Pirates miss the boat

Have Orlando Pirates just kissed their title hopes goodbye?

Orlando pirates vs supersport united

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 11: Happy Jele of Pirates and Evans Rusike of Supersport United during the Absa Premiership match between SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates at Mbombela Stadium on April 11, 2018 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)

Orlando Pirates failed to pull the trigger in their bid to put pressure on Premier Soccer League log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns following a 0-0 draw against SuperSport United at the Mbombela Stadium last night.

Had Pirates capitalised on a number of chances, they would’ve moved to within a point of Pitso Mosimane’s side, although Downs have a game in hand. But instead, Bucs, now on 46 points, will look back at a number of missed opportunities with midfielder Mpho Makola the main culprit, hitting the woodwork twice in the first half.

Time is running out for Pirates with only four games left. They next face AmaZula FC at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday while Mamelodi Sundowns, who top the standings on 49 points, face Wits at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

On the opposite end of the table, SuperSport United, now on 28 points, are still swimming in very dangerous waters and are only one point out of the drop zone after 15th placed Ajax Cape Town beat Wits 1-0 to move up to 27 points.

United’s caretaker coach Kaitano Tembo was pleased with his team’s efforts.

I’ve got to give credit to the guys. It wasn’t an easy game because this is a very good Pirates team. In the first half, I think we tried to be a little more adventurous. We created better opportunities when we played them a little bit high. They never really had the ball. In the second half, we were dominant with most of the possession and the guys did very well.

Further adding to Matsatsantsa a Pitori’s worries is that they have only scored one goal in their last six games.

Pirates coach Micho Sredojevic, meanwhile, remained optimistic as his team look ahead to their remaining four fixtures.

PSL results
PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 25: Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, Head Coach, of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership match between Chippa United and Orlando Pirates at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)

We really applied ourselves as agreed. Sometimes in football, you are not winning but inside, we are so happy because the players respected the jersey and did everything possible especially in the second half, we tried from the left and right in creating chances. But the effort of the players is something we are proud of, we shall pick this point and look forward.

Sredojevic refused to get caught up in doom and gloom despite several missed chances.

The most important is that we played really well in the build-up to those chances we created. We did well in all three aspects of the game. Build-up, defence and closing the counter attacks as well as creating chances. Unfortunately, the ball didn’t enter despite every player giving it their all.

While the coaches refused to give up on their respective campaigns, fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment.