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Durban - It was honours even in a hard-fought Durban derby on Saturday afternoon as AmaZulu and Golden Arrows both scored from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The hosts went into the half-time break with a slender lead thanks to Nduduzo Sibiya's 36th-minute spot-kick, but it was Bonginkosi Ntuli who had the last say slotting home from the post on 58 minutes to secure a share of the spoils for the visitors.
As expected, the match started at a frantic tempo, with Ntuli testing Arrows keeper Edmore Sibanda with a tame shot in the opening minute, before the hosts hit back with a chance of their own just two minutes later as Gumede saw his goal-bound effort kept out by the feet of Siyabonga Mbatha.
Arrows again went close to claiming an early lead in the 9th minute when Mbatha punched the ball clear from Sibiya's effort, but Lerato Lamola was unable to capitalise as he stretched for the rebound only to fire wide of goal.
After a brief lull in play, the deadlock was eventually broken just past the half-hour mark after Lamola was brought down in the area, leaving the referee with no other option but to award a spot-kick. Sibiya stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
AmaZulu threatened to score again in the first minute of injury time, but the effort from outside the box flew wide of the mark.
The visitors started brightly after the half-time interval and had a penalty appeal waved away by the ref in the 54th minute after what appeared to be a handball in the box.
However, they weren't to be denied just two minutes later as Ntuli was fouled in the danger area by Zolani Nkombelo. Ntuli dusted himself down before converting from the spot to bring AmaZulu back on level terms with just over half an hour remaining.
AmaZulu continued to press forward and almost claimed the lead in the 66th minute as Mbongeni Gumede fired wide of the goal from just outside the box.
Substitute Lehlohonolo Majoro fired over the bar as AmaZulu pressed for the winner, while at the opposite end of the pitch, Danny Phiri was denied by a fine Mbatha save.
In the end, neither side was able to find the all-important breakthrough as an entertaining Natal derby ended all square, leaving AmaZulu still looking for their first win of the campaign.
