Highlands Park played to a 0-0 draw against Orlando Pirates in their Absa Premiership encounter at Makhulong Stadium on Saturday night.

The encounter got off to a slow start with both sides wanting to sniff out one another’s weaknesses and contain possession of the ball in the opening exchanges.

Oupa Manyisa almost gave Pirates the lead in the 11th minute when he looked to race onto Tendai Ndoro’s inviting ball, however the on-rushing Tapuwa Kapini did to well to stop the Pirates captain.

The home side did all the attacking in the first-half and were unlucky not to go ahead through respective efforts from Lindokuhle Mbatha and Thanduyise Khuboni.

Franklyn Cale came closest to breaking the deadlock for Gordon Igesund’s side on the stroke of half-time when his stinging free-kick crashed against the crossbar with Siyabonga Mpontshane well-beaten.

Pirates emerged from the second-half as the more dominant team and almost broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when Abbubaker Mobara’s long-range effort was parried into the path of Mpho Makola, who directed the rebound straight at Kapini.

Highlands Park came agonisingly close to having taken the lead in the 58th minute when Siyabonga Nhlapho’s enticing ball into the area was met by Cale’s diving-header, which narrowly went over the crossbar.

Pirates dominated possession proceedings, but failed to make it count in the final third with Highlands content on playing for the draw.

Substitute Ayanda Nkosi showed great skill to bring down Manyisa’s lobbed through-ball, but the forward’s subsequent effort proved tame and went straight into the hands of Kapini.

Dove Wome had a brilliant chance to seal the three points for his side late-on when he profited from a loose ball in the area, however the forward failed to hit the back of the net as the two sides were forced to share the spoils.

Photo: Sydney Mahlangu /BackpagePix