Three goals in the last 10 minutes made for a thrilling conclusion to the 2-2 Premier Soccer League draw between Maritzburg United and Platinum Stars at Woodburn Stadium on Sunday.
With Stars 1-0 ahead from just after half-time, United equalised through Brice Aka with six minutes to go. Stars went ahead again through Thabiso Monareng in the 87th, and then Aka scored again to equalise within a minute.
Maritzburg started the game fired up and a free-kick from Sam Ndlovu from an acute angle on the right in the eighth minute was palmed over for a corner by Platinum Stars goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini.
In the 22nd minute Sipho Mngomezulu shot well over the bar from a good position on the edge of the area.
For Stars, Simba Marumo headed over the bar in the 37th minute from a long throw-in by Alviro Lobo.
United dominated the first half without breaking the Stars defence to create clear-cut chances. This resulted in long-range efforts from the home team.
Just before the break Lucky Maselesele was fed on the edge of the area and slid his shot wide of the right upright. Marumo’s 35m shot from a free-kick in first-half injury time was easily held by United goalkeeper Athiel Mbaha.
Another drive by Maselesele a minute into the second half went a foot over the bar and did not test Kapini.
But three minutes later Stars took the lead when Lobo’s free-kick from deep on the right was floated in and defender George Lobo got a faint header that snuck in past Mbaha.
Maritzburg struggled to get their passing rhythm together in their push for an equaliser. In the 75th minute substitute Tico-Tico Bucuane directed his free header over the bar from Maselesele’s chip.
United did equalise in the 84th minute when Aka headed in Peter Petersen’s cross from the right.
The home team appeared to have thrown away a draw when Monareng was left unmarked to glance in Joseph Mkalipa’s cross from the left. But Maritzburg hit back within a minute with the same combination from the first goal. Peter Petersen took a free-kick from the right and Aka scored with the head for the home team’s equaliser.
Two diving saves from Kapini, from Maselesele’s header and Bucuane’s shot, denied the fired-up home team a victory. – Sapa