Modric plays as Spurs draw with Orlando Pirates

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AFP) - Transfer-seeking midfielder Luka Modric captained Tottenham Hotspur as they drew 1-1 with Orlando Pirates Tuesday in the second match of the Vodacom Challenge series.

The diminutive Croat has been the target of two 20-million-pound-plus offers from London rivals Chelsea with both rejected by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who insists no stars are leaving the club.

It was the first appearance of the pre-English Premiership season for 25-year-old Modric after an ankle injury ruled him out of a 1-0 defeat by Pirates arch Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs last Saturday.

Modric came off after 60 minutes as Spurs manager Harry Redknapp rang the second half changes before a smaller-than-expected 25,000 crowd at Mbombela Stadium in this eastern city with cold weather and a petrol strike keeping many spectators away.

Dutch star Rafael van der Vaart gave Tottenham a 17th-minute lead when he curled a free kick from just outside the penalty area around a defensive wall and over goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa into the roof of the net.

Slow-to-click Pirates levelled five minutes before half-time when fullback Happy Jele unleashed an angled shot from the edge of the box that flew across recently signed goalkeeper Brad Friedel and into the far corner of the net.

© 2011 AFP