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Johannesburg - Tendai Ndoro struck twice for Mpumalanga Black Aces, as they fought back from two goals down to share the points in a 2-2 draw with Premiership strugglers Free State Stars in Nelspruit on Saturday.
"It could have gone either way," said Aces coach Clive Barker.
"There were great chances on both sides, and all credit to Free State Stars. They fought all the way.
"I'm happy with our performance, coming back. We obviously wanted to win at home but we made a real good game of it."
Stars dominated in the early stages, after Camaldine Abraw gave them the lead in the ninth minute.
Danny Venter set him up nicely with a chip into the area, and Abraw's header deflected off the crossbar into the net.
With 10 minutes left in the opening stanza, Venter extended the advantage.
Charging into the box, he received a neat pass from Zamuxolo Ngalo and struck with a left-footed shot that kept low.
Two minutes later, however, Aces pulled one back through Zimbabwean international Ndoro, who pounced on a loose ball and made no mistake, with the Stars defence left floundering.
The visitors were unable to capitalise on their advantage in the second half, and Ndoro equalised from the penalty spot on the hour mark.
Robert Sankara was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, and while Stars keeper Glenn Verbauwhede saved the initial shot, Ndoro banged the ball in off the rebound.
"We should have won this game easily," said Venter, the Man of the Match.
"We couldn't bag our chances and they capitalised, but that's football."
