Orlando Pirates and FC Platinum drew 2-2 in the 2018/19 CAF Champions League Group B match at the Orlando Stadium in South Africa on Friday night.

As a result, South African giants Pirates and Zimbabwean champions Platinum remained third and fourth respectively on the table.

The Buccaneers struggled to create cut chances in the opening stages of the game with the Platinum Boys looking solid at the back.

The visitors were awarded a penalty when Brazilian defender Marcelo Da Silva was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the Pirates box.

However, Wayne Sandilands came to Bucs’ rescue as the goalkeeper made a great save to deny Never Tigere from the spot-kick.

The Platinum Boys continued to attack and they did take the lead when Tigere’s deflected effort beat Sandilands to make it 1-0 to Platinum three minutes before the half-hour mark.

Pirates pushed for the equalizing goal, but they could not seriously test Petros Mhari in the Platinum Boys goal-posts.

The Bucs defence was left vulnerable eight minutes before half-time and it was punished by Rainsome Pavari, who scored to make it 2-0 to Platinum after some good work by Perfect Chikwende.

The score was 2-0 to Platinum, who had stunned Pirates in the first-half with the two teams having drawn 0-0 in Zimbabwe on match-day one.

Pirates pressed the visitors after restart and Mhari, who had a relatively quiet first-half, became a very busy man as he was forced to parry away Justin Shonga’s free-kick.

Mhari was also called into action in the 71st minute and he made a great save to deny Zambia international Shonga, who was looking to score with a header.

The hosts’ pressure finally paid off in the 81st minute when Luvuyo Memela’s low cross was fired home by Thembinkosi Lorch to make it 2-1 for Pirates.

The Platinum Boys were struggling to contain Pirates and the visitors conceded again with three minutes left when Mulenga scored from close range to make it 2-2.

The visitors were then reduced to 10 players when Kelvin Moyo was sent off after denying Pirates striker Thamsanqa Gabuza a goalscoring opportunity in stoppage time.

However, Mhari pulled off a brilliant save to deny Kudakwashe Mahachi to ensure that the match ended in a 2-2 draw with Pirates and Platinum sharing the spoils.

Pirates (0) 2 (Lorch 81′, Mulenga 87′)
Platinum (2) 2 (Tigere 27′, Pavari 37′)

Pirates: Sandilands, Jele, Ndengane, Marcelo (Mulenga 46′), Maela, Mahachi, Nyatama (Gabuza 70′), Mlambo, Lorch, Memela, Shonga.

Platinum: Mhari, Bello, E.Moyo,Maduviwa, Sadiki (Stima 85′), K.Moyo, Madzongwe, Tigere (Chafa 90’+4′), Kutsanzira, Pavari, Chikwende (Madhanaga 82′).