The Buccaneers will claim they suffered at the hands of fate (they hit the frame of the goal no less than four times) but in truth they have only themselves to blame for dropping two points, as they allowed Santos' Jerome Ramatlhakwana to score a equaliser just two minutes after defender Lucas Thwala had broken their goal drought in the closing stages, as well as missing a first-half penalty.

Pirates was on the attack from the very first minute, with winger Dikgang Mabalane hitting the bar and Thulasizwe Mbuyane just unable to get on the end of the ball.

In the third minute, Gilbert Mushangazhike met a fine cross from Mabalane, but Francis Chansa didn't have to move to keep out the Zimbabwean striker's powerful header.

Teko Modise brought the best out of Chansa in the 16th minute with a stinging angled drive that was tipped over the bar by the DR Congo 'keeper. The resulting corner saw Santos defender Bongi Macala clear Mushangazhike’s shot off his own goal line.

In the 25th minute, Macala was harshly adjudged to have fouled Mbuyane as the midfielder tried to get on the end of a Mushangazhike pass and referee Peter Mabuza awarded a penalty.

Modise beat Chansa from the spot after a cheeky dummy but the referee disallowed the goal and cautioned the playmaker, ordering him to retake the penalty. Chansa guessed right the second time round and made a great save to frustrate the Pirates faithful.

Erwin Isaacs' 25-metre screamer was palmed away by Pirates goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs, during injury time at the end of the first half, keeping the match level at 0-0 heading into the interval.

Pirates started the second half much as they did the first, as Mbuyane set up Mabalane for a shot on goal but the right winger's effort hit the base of Chansa's right-hand post.

Just before the hour mark, Mushangazhike long range effort slammed into the top of Chansa's left-hand upright.

When Pirates hit the frame of the goal for the fourth time – Thwala's rising drive from a free kick – it seemed as if their first league goal would go on to another game.

However, in the 84th minute, Thwala met a corner kick and emphatically headed home the opening goal.

It was Ramatlhakwana who saved the day for Santos in the 86th minute, scoring the equaliser.