Stars fight back to draw at Tuks

Cape Town - A brace from Thabo Mnyamane was not enough to propel the University of Pretoria to a much-needed victory as Free State Stars came from behind to hold the capital side to a 2-2 draw in an Absa Premiership clash at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday.

Goals from Danny Venter and Sello Japhta within 16 second-half minutes cancelled out Mnyamane's double.

Chasing his first win as AmaTuks head coach, Shaun Bartlett named an attacking line-up and the Tshwane side were on course for the win with Mnyamane finding the back of the net on either side of the break. 

The former Varsity Cup star opened the scoring on 33 minutes, firing home at the first time of asking following a lung-busting run down the left flank by Junior Sibande. 

Mnyamane doubled the hosts’ lead four minutes into the second stanza, this time sliding in at the back post from a Thabiso Nkoana pass. 

Ea Lla Koto hit back through a Danny Venter rocket in the 52nd minute – the midfielder also scored in the reverse fixture against Tuks.  

Venter was unlucky not to level matters just before the hour: having bamboozled the Tuks centre-backs he dragged his shot narrowly wide of goal. 

This miss, though, mattered little as Japhta blasted home the equaliser on the volley to send the traveling fans into delirium. 

A fourth draw of the season leaves Tuks in the relegation play-off spot.