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Aces, Wits play to stalemate

Cape Town - An early goal through Thabo Nodada and a late strike by Zamuxolo Ngalo gave Mpumalanga Black Aces a 2-2 draw in their Absa Premiership tie against Bidvest Wits at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.

Skipper Sibusiso Vilakazi netted a brace for Wits, but it was not enough as they still occupy the second spot with 57 points, trailing Mamelodi Sundowns by five points with only two matches to play for the Students.

AmaZayoni, on the other hand, now have 43 points at number five.

Both sides displayed hunger in the beginning stages of the match, but it was Aces who attacked first through skipper Collins Mbesuma - he had a chance as early as the second minute, but he missed with a header after a sweet delivery by Aubrey Ngoma.

Two minutes later, Wits came close through Joaquim Lupeta as he received a good ball from Paseka Sekese, but his right footed shot also went wide.

AmaZayoni took the lead in the eighth minute when Nodada received a beautiful cross from Bryce Moon on the right flank - a dummy by Lindokuhle Mbatha in the box allowed the youngster to easily tap the ball home, 1-0

Ertugral's men then hit the cross bar in the 19th minute with Moeneeb Josephs beaten by Moon, but the former Bafana Bafana right back couldn't keep his header low as it rattled the woodwork.

The Clever Boys managed to equalise in the 33rd minute when Daine Klate picked out Vilakazi on the left as he made his run into the box - the Bafana midfielder cleverly beat Jackson Mabokgwane on his far post to make it 1-1 at the break.

Hlanti forced a great save from Mabokgwane just after the resumption of the second stanza as the keeper punched the ball away from a corner kick.

Elias Pelembe whipped a pin point cross into the box for Lupeta, but Mabokgwane was equal to the task by making a brilliant save to deny the Clever Boys in the 54th minute.

Aces broke through on the right in the 69th minute and Mbatha crossed the ball to find substitute Judas Moseamedi, but Nazeer Allie put his face on the line to deny him.

Three minutes from time Pelembe managed to set up Vilakazi who scored a brace after beating Mabokgwane from a close range, 2-1.

Just two minutes later Ngalo cancelled out Vilakazi's goal as he finished a cross on the far post following a set-piece by Ngoma.

The match ended 2-2.

Mpumalanga Black Aces: (1) 2 (Nodada 8', Ngalo 89')

Bidvest Wits: (1) 2 (Vilakazi 33', 87')

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