Black Aces earn a point

Rustenburg - Black Aces have fought back from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Platinum Stars in an Absa Premiership clash at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday.

Stars had an early chance to claim the lead after Aces defender Lehlohonolo Nonyane was adjudged to have handled the ball in the 18-yard area.

Vuyo Mere took on the responsibility of the spot kick but saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane.

That missed opportunity set the tone for the rest of the first half, with the teams trading scoring chances but either failing to beat goalkeepers Mabokgwane and Kabelo Dambe, or hit the target altogether.

Late in the first half Nonyane picked up a caution for a foul on Mogakolodi Ngele. The resulting free kick saw Ndumiso Mabena fire a shot at goal, but Mabokgwane made a fine save to parry the effort away to safety.

However, Dikwena broke the deadlock in injury time before the interval when Mahlatsi Makudubela finally had the beating of the Aces goalkeeper, finding the back of the net with a right-footed finish to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

Stars almost added to their advantage in the first minute after the restart, but Ngele’s shot on target was brilliantly turned away by Mabokgwane to keep his side in with a chance of a comeback.

And, after missing chances through the likes of Collins Mbesuma and Tendai Ndoro, AmaZayoni did indeed get themselves back on level terms when Miguel Timm set up Aubrey Ngoma to equalise with a left-footed shot in the 79th minute.

Scorers:

Platinum Stars (1) 1 (Makudubela 45+1’)
Black Aces (0) 1 (Ngoma 79’)

Teams:

Platinum Stars: Dambe, Mere, Khumalo (Moon 68’), Semenya, Nonyane, Tshikovi, Nyanda, Mathe, Makudubela (Segolela 80’), Ngele, Mabena (Rodgers 83’)

Black Aces: Mabokgwane, Mampuru, Nonyane, Gumede, Tom, Timm, Nengomasha (Khuboni 62’), Ngalo, Ngoma, Mbesuma, Ndoro (Nale 83’)