Cape Town - Polokwane City and Golden Arrows played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Absa Premiership at the Pietersburg Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The hot weather conditions were difficult to contend with in Polokwane as both teams found it difficult to get going.
Five minutes before the break the away side came close to a breakthrough. Velemseni Ndwandwe started the counter-attack deep inside his own half and eventually fed Danny Venter who tested George Chigova with a low shot to his left that the keeper did well to hold on to.
Ndwandwe’s influence on the game grew and in the 50th minute he pounced on a poor pass from Thabiso Semenya and split the City defence to feed striker, Lerato Lamola who kept his composure to give his team the lead.
Rise and Shine had Chigova to thank for keeping them in the game as the Zimbabwean shot stopper made two point blank saves in quick succession. Venter was the creator of both, first from a set piece that was met by a toe-poke towards goal by Matome Mathiane. The second came from a corner which saw Mzwandile Buthelezi direct a header at the far post.
The visitors drew level on the hour mark. Jabulani Maluleke got his ninth assist of the season when Walter Musona scored with his first touch of the game after he chested the ball past Maximilian Mbaeva.
Abafana Bes’thende took just four minutes to restore their lead. Ndwandwe got his second assist of the game after he found Siphelele Magubane who scored his fifth goal of the season. He showed excellent technique to curl the ball home with his left-foot from outside the box.
With two minutes to go, Mbaeva made a brilliant save to thwart Sammy Seabi after the ball fell fortuitously to the midfielder inside the box.
Musona then turned creator as his lay off found Tlolane who stole a point for Bernard Molekwa’s. His thunderous effort found the back of the net in the last minute of the game.