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Cape Town - There was late controversy as Baroka FC and Polokwane City played out to a pulsating 2-2 draw in Sunday's Polokwane derby at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
In a high intensity Polokwane derby, Marshall Munetsi gave Baroka the lead with a well-taken sixth minute header. Baroka had further chances to extend their lead before Rodney Ramagalela found an equaliser in the 13th minute for Polokwane City.
Munetsi then squandered a number of good opportunities with his head for the hosts which City would punish. In the 59th minute, Ramagalela's accurate cross found Puleng Tlolane who headed home.
Bakgaga pushed forward for the equaliser but struggled to create clear openings. Yet, they equalised in controversial circumstances after time had been played for injuries when Tshepiso Lietsisa scored.
In an at times thrilling Polokwane derby at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, both teams came out with an intent to attack and play with great purpose and intensity.
It wouldn't be long before the game had its first goal when Marshall Munetsi tucked away a neat finish from a corner in the sixth minute to give Baroka the lead.
The momentum was with Bakgaga as in the ninth minute Khalid Aucho should have done better when he put his header well over the bar with just George Chigova to beat. It perhaps should have been 2-0 to the hosts.
Moments later the game erupted into controversy when Richard Matloga was seemingly pulled down when through on goal for Baroka, but no decision was given. From Chigova's restart, Rodney Ramagalela broke down field and levelled for the visitors in the 13th minute.
The pace of the game remained quick and in the 32nd minute Munetsi had the chance to restore the advantage for the Kgokolo Thobejane-coached outfit. However, he put his header wide when he may have done better.
In an action-packed first half, Ramagalela then put his 38th minute shot wide after a clever free-kick routine by Luc Eymael's men. Towards the end of the stanza, Munetsi also saw a header well tipped over the bar by Chigova.
After the interval, both teams struggled to create chances for long periods as it seemed both defences had tightened things up after an open first period.
Yet, the deadlock was broken largely out of nothing in the 59th minute when Ramagalela broke free down the right and sent in an excellent cross which Puleng Tlolane finished with a clinical diving header past Masuluke Oscarine.
Baroka tried to get back in the game and it was again Munetsi who went closest, however, he again put a free header over the bar when in space. They came close again in the 78th minute from a corner although Polokwane managed to clear the ball off the line.
Yet, with time added for injuries having already been played, Tshepiso Lietsisa's controversial free-kick secured an equaliser in the 97th minute with virtually the last kick of the game.
