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Cape Town - A stunning equalizer late in optional time cancelled out Collins Mbesuma’s first half goal as Black Aces and University of Pretoria drew 1-1 in their Absa Premiership tie in Mbombela.
Most of the game was end to end action and there were plenty of scoring chances wasted, and Aces will feel worse off for not wrapping up the game when they were 1-0 ahead.
Both teams had chances to score from headers inside the first 10 minutes of the game and early signs were that this was going to be an open clash.
In the 17the minute Aces striker Collins Mbesuma and Bhongolwethu Jayiya combined well, but AmaTuks’ defenders managed to get in the way and block the attempt.
Ashraf Hendricks then got a free header at goal in the 25th minute, but he sent his powerful header over the goal posts.
Then came the opening goal through Mbesuma who ran onto a through pass, held off his marker and carried the ball forward a few paces before firing a low shot at the near post to beat Trystan Coetsee.
Two minutes later and Eddie Ngalo’s header looked to be going in, but Coetsee made a very good save to keep the score at just 1-0 to Aces.
With a few minutes to go until the halftime break, Tuks should have found their equalizer when Atusaye Nyondo’s ball across goal was just too strong for Thabo Mnyamane running in at the far post.
Aces almost stole a goal on the hour mark when Tuks gave the ball away at the back and Mbesuma took the opportunity. The big man went around goalkeeper Coetsee but could not punish him, and the chance was missed.
How Aces never scored in 80th minute is anybody’s guess. Judas Moseamedi made a brilliant run but when he did shoot he found the upright. Mbesuma was onto the rebound quickly but his goal bound shot was cleared off the line by a defender.
Aces spent the last period of the game playing on the counter attack while AmaTuks pushed hard for their equalizer and were rewarded deep into injury time when Nyondo struck with a classy header.
A great cross from the byline by Thabo Mosadi was steered in powerfully towards the far post by Nyondo in what was a top class goal.
