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Cape Town - Platinum Stars held Highlands Park to a 2-2 draw in the team's Absa Premiership match at Makhulong Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Dikwena fought back from two goals down to secure a draw against the Lions of the North, though the result doesn’t help either side move decisively clear of the relegation zone at the bottom of the log.
The early minutes of the match were evenly contested, but Stars gradually began to take control of the game and threatened the opening goal just before the midway point of the first half when Siyabonga Zulu sent a shot just over the crossbar direct from a free kick.
On 27 minutes Dikwena were inches away from taking the lead when midfielder Solomon Mathe let fly with a powerful effort from the edge of the box, but the ball rebounded off the crossbar – much to the relief of Highlands goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini.
Yet the hosts claimed the advantage against the run of play just a minute later, with Mothobi Mvala getting on the end of Franklin Cale’s corner kick to score with a header. And the Lions of the North quickly doubled their lead: Cale was again the architect, providing another fine corner kick for Charlton Mashumba to finish right-footed on the half hour mark for 2-0.
Stars hit back straight away, as midfielder Robert Ng’ambi provided a fine finish in the 33rd minute to make it 2-1, and on the stroke of half time Benson Shilongo got on the end of a Vuyo Mere assist to take the score to 2-2 and complete an entertaining first 45 minutes of football.
The scoring chances continued to flow for the visitors in the early minutes of the second half, with Henrico Botes heading just over the bar, Shilongo firing wide and Ndumiso Mabena hitting the woodwork with a free kick.
Dikwena continued to look the better team as the minutes ticked by and in the latter stages they created a great chance for Mabena, but the attacker was denied by a fine save from Kapini to ensure the match finished on level terms.
