Stars shine in 1-1 draw with Pirates

Dikwena rewarded with 90th minute header by Kunene Thobani Kunene’s 90th minute header earned Platinum Stars a deserved 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium last night. The substitute cancelled out Thabiso Kutumela’s 77th minute goal and anything less than a point would have been an injustice for Dikwena. They were the better side on the night and having collected draws in their visits to Soweto, have marked themselves as a dangerous side if the mood fits. Yesterday was one of those nights where they decided to play out of their skins. It was not a first half that would have set pulses racing but Stars’ domination of chances and possession made Muhsin Ertugral run energetically up and down the touchline. It was a Stars side that attacked with purpose and kept their defensive shape. In the same way they made Kaizer Chiefs look distinctly average in their 1-1 draw on September 14, Stars set out on doing the same with Pirates. The fact that Pirates only had one clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute through Oupa Manyisa was testament to Stars’ defensive discipline. Robert Ng’ambi, Ndumiso Mabena and Henrico Botes all tested Brighton Mhlongo’s skill at some point but if they did not shoot straight at him, they either found the bar or made him work for the night’s salary Pirates found better attacking shape in the second half. Between Botes’s 47th minute header that went narrowly wide and Mabena’s 70th minute effort that rattled the crossbar, Pirates created some decent opportunities. Substitute Kutumela should have done better with his 60th effort but shot straight at Stars keeper Mbongeni Mzimela. There was also Mpho Makola’s excellent 58th minute snapshot that was saved by Mzimela. Unfortunately, there was nothing the Stars keeper could do to keep out Kutumela’s freekick. However, this Stars side does not understand the meaning of giving up and even though Sibusiso Msomi’s 90th minute shot was well saved by Mhlongo, Kunene ensured Stars took a deserved share of the points from the resultant corner. Other results: Maritzburg United 0 Polokwane City 1, Highlands Park 1 Cape Town City 1.