Royal AM and Orlando Pirates Draw 2:2 in DStv Premiership Thriller, Cape Town City Finishes as Runners Up

• Royal AM and Orlando Pirates had to settle for a 2-2 draw in a very entertaining DStv Premiership match at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban
• Deon Hotto and Kwame Peprah gave the Buccaneers a very quick lead, before Thwihli Thwahla stole a point thanks to late goals by Thabo Matlaba and Mfundo Langa
• The result ensure that Cape Town City was confirmed as the second-placed finishers behind Mamelodi Sundowns, qualifying for the CAF Champions League

Royal AM and Orlando Pirates' much-anticipated encounter at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban lived up to expectations tonight.

The sides drew 2-2 in a pulsating match which proved to be one of the best of the season.

Deon Hotto gave the Buccaneers the lead in the third minute, before Kwame Peprah doubled it just four minutes later in the seventh. Thabo Matlaba pulled one back against his former side with a superb, long range strike in the 78th minute, before Mfundo Langa equalised in the 93rd minute, taking advantage of some pretty poor Pirates defending.

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Football

The result put paid to either side's hopes of playing in next season's CAF Champions League, as it confirmed Cape Town City as the runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Unless Pirates defeats SuperSport United by more than five goals on Monday night, Royal will finish in third place, qualifying for the Confederations Cup in just their first season of top-flight football.

It remains to be seen if co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids will be kept on after the latest implosion by their team.

Royal AM and Orlando Pirates collide in straight knockout for CAF Champions League spot in DStv Premiership

Royal AM and Orlando Pirates will collide in what promises to be an entertaining DStv Premiership encounter at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban.

As reported by Sports Brief, the teams drew 1-1 in October last year in the only previous encounter between the sides, with Levy Mashiane opening the scoring for Thwihli Thwahla, before Linda Mntambo equalised for the Buccaneers.

With both teams chasing a place in African competitions, preferably the CAF Champions League, the permutations are as clear as day.