Arrows, Polokwane share spoils

Cape Town - A late goal by debutant Thomas Chideu ensured Golden Arrows maintained their unbeaten start to the Absa Premiership season with a 2-2 draw against Polokwane City at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.

The red-hot Rodney Ramagalela fired the visitors ahead from a rebound after seven minutes for his sixth goal of the season, before Knox Mutizwa headed in the equaliser four minutes later.

Sammy Seabi chested Rise and Shine back ahead after 69 minutes, before Chideu struck in stoppage time to rescue a point.

Although Arrows missed the chance to go top, they at least managed to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and stayed second behind Baroka FC at the summit.

The visitors, who beat AmaZulu just up the road in Umlazi in midweek, began with a bang as a sweet free-kick by Jabulani Maluleke was curled onto the left upright, with Ramagalela quickest to react against his former club.

But the reply was instantaneous as Lerato Lamola’s raking cross from the right was played in behind the defence and perfectly onto the head of Mutizwa to head in.

The Zimbabwean, though, missed a an gilt-edged chance to put Arrows ahead midway through the half when Lamola again crossed from the right and the unmarked forward nodded wide with the goalkeeper stranded.

There was little in terms of goalmouth action in the remaining 22 minutes before the break, with Walter Musona and Ramagalela firing high and wide for City as the sides went into the break level at 1-1.

After the restart, Ramagalela had a golden chance to put his side back ahead, but wastefully headed over a fine left-sided ball from Ravhuhali Ndivhuwo.

Arrows had to wait until the 67th minute to carve out their next chance, with Mutizwa heading over this time, with Polokwane then going ahead two minutes later after Ramagalela’s cross from the right was chested in by Seabi.

Abafana Bes’thende were almost level seconds later when Sibusiso Mbonani cleared Musa Bilankulu’s header on the line after Yusuf Jappie’s set-piece.

With 10 minutes remaining, Maluleke forced Nkosingiphile Gumede to tip over as City threatened to kill of the game.

And there was another chance at the death when Vusimusi Mngomezulu struck the upright, before substitute Chideu arrowed in an unstoppable shot from outside the box at the death.