Orlando Pirates 1-1 Tottenham: Spurs left upset after Happy Jele's rocket secures draw

Tottenham Hotspur continue to search for its first victory in the club's preseason tour of South Africa as it drew its second game with Orlando Pirates 1-1.

In an entertaining affair, both sides had chances to win the game - and Pirates coach Julio Leal will feel aggrieved that his side didn't win after a 'goal' was chalked off for being offside - just.

The visitors started brighter of the two, with Gareth Bale opting to volley with the outside of his boot rather than cut it back to striker Jermain Defoe, and his attempt flew just over the bar.

The hosts picked up a little after that, spurred on by the vuvuzela's in the crowd, and their first attempt sailed high and wide from midfielder Daine Klate.

Isaac Chansa had a pop a few minutes afterwards, but his shot was deflected over Brad Friedel’s goal for a corner.

But it was Spurs and Rafael Van Der Vaart who opened the scoring with stunning free-kick after 17 minutes.

The Dutchman curled home an unstoppable free-kick after David Bentley was brought down just outside the box.

Bale threatened down the left again, and this time the Welshman did cut the ball back to Defoe, but the striker couldn’t get a better touch on the ball to divert it goalbound.

Chansa again went close, this time he drilled a 20-yard shot - which had Friedel at full-stretch - narrowly wide.

Bale tried to emulate Van Der Vaart’s goal by taking a free-kick from the same spot as where he scored, and his effort was turned over the bar by goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.

But it was the South African side's perserverance that saw them draw level, with Happy Jele stunning Spurs with a ferocious strike.

The right-back interchanged passes with Tlou Segolela on the corner of the 18-yard box before unleashing a rocket shot that Friedel could only flap at.

Klate thought he had put his side in front on the stroke of half-time but his goal was disallowed for being offside - it was a tight call but the linesman just got it right,

In the second-half, Aaron Lennon should have put Spurs in front, but he sent his attempt skywards as he was slightly off-balance following great work down the left again from Gareth Bale whilst Niko Krancjar had a dinked effort cleared off the line.

Mark Mayambela went close for the Pirates, his shot from distance curled away from Brad Freidel's goal at the last second and Michael Dawson produced a last-gasp challenge to prevent a golden opportunity.

The game could have gone either way, but a draw was a fair result in the end.

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