Pietermaritzburg - A brace by Bonginkosi Ntuli ensured that Golden Arrows denied Maritzburg United in their 2-2 PSL draw at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night.
The hosts took the lead twice through goals by Orlando Smeekes and Cuthbert Malajila, but it didn’t prove to be enough as the substitute Ntuli helped grab a point.
Maritzburg United came into the game on the back of the loss to SuperSport United and were in need of returning to winning ways in hope of keeping their dreams of a top four finish alive.
GALLERY: Best pics from PSL action
And it couldn’t have gone any smoother than it did for the Team of Choice as they drew the first blood just nine minutes in after Orlando Smeekes found the back of the net.
The Dutchman had been absent from the line-up since November and couldn’t have made his case in a better way when he knocked home Delron Buckley’s cross from six yards out.
Dillon Sheppard then tried his luck from close range, but it went wide at the post, halfway through the first half.
Maritzburg were conducting play nicely, but Arrows managed to have two late attempts at goal with the first coming from Tshepo Liphoko six minutes before the break. He struck a right-footed effort which sailed over the crossbar.
Shu-Aib Walters was then tested with some action when he had to make a save off Masonwabe Bovu’s shot, resulting in the midfielder’s final action of the game as he was subbed at halftime.
Golden Arrows opted for a double change at the break and it proved to be the correct decision by the coach as Ntuli drew his team level, just two minutes after coming on.
Thanduyise Khuboni was the player who supplied the cross from the left flank and it allowed for Ntuli to strike a ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
The hosts’ response was practically immediate as they turned the result 2-1 in favour of them, through Cuthbert Malajila’s tap-in from six yards out.
Arrows continued to apply the pressure on the hosts, in order to find their second equaliser on the night, and despite efforts from Liphoko and Ntuli they couldn’t find the back of the net by the halfway stage of the second half.
Arrows did manage to catch a point at the death of the game when Ntuli struck home a 90th minute equaliser off Walters’ save, ending the game at 2-2.
The hosts took the lead twice through goals by Orlando Smeekes and Cuthbert Malajila, but it didn’t prove to be enough as the substitute Ntuli helped grab a point.
Maritzburg United came into the game on the back of the loss to SuperSport United and were in need of returning to winning ways in hope of keeping their dreams of a top four finish alive.
GALLERY: Best pics from PSL action
And it couldn’t have gone any smoother than it did for the Team of Choice as they drew the first blood just nine minutes in after Orlando Smeekes found the back of the net.
The Dutchman had been absent from the line-up since November and couldn’t have made his case in a better way when he knocked home Delron Buckley’s cross from six yards out.
Dillon Sheppard then tried his luck from close range, but it went wide at the post, halfway through the first half.
Maritzburg were conducting play nicely, but Arrows managed to have two late attempts at goal with the first coming from Tshepo Liphoko six minutes before the break. He struck a right-footed effort which sailed over the crossbar.
Shu-Aib Walters was then tested with some action when he had to make a save off Masonwabe Bovu’s shot, resulting in the midfielder’s final action of the game as he was subbed at halftime.
Golden Arrows opted for a double change at the break and it proved to be the correct decision by the coach as Ntuli drew his team level, just two minutes after coming on.
Thanduyise Khuboni was the player who supplied the cross from the left flank and it allowed for Ntuli to strike a ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
The hosts’ response was practically immediate as they turned the result 2-1 in favour of them, through Cuthbert Malajila’s tap-in from six yards out.
Arrows continued to apply the pressure on the hosts, in order to find their second equaliser on the night, and despite efforts from Liphoko and Ntuli they couldn’t find the back of the net by the halfway stage of the second half.
Arrows did manage to catch a point at the death of the game when Ntuli struck home a 90th minute equaliser off Walters’ save, ending the game at 2-2.