Sekhukhune United fought back to hold the surprise package of the season, Polokwane City, to a 1-1 draw in a Betway Premiership clash played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.
The draw saw Babina Noko remain fourth in the standings - five points behind fourth-placed Polokwane and coach Lehlohonolo Seema's side will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they take on AmaZulu FC away on Wednesday.
Rise and Shine, on the other hand, remain third in the standings - five points behind second-placed Orlando Pirates and coach Phuti Mohafe's side will be inactive in midweek as they are scheduled to face SuperSport United away on 17 January.
There's nothing to separate Polokwane City and Sekhukhune Utd in their first #BetwayPrem match of 2025 🤝 pic.twitter.com/dQoXiSQlRB
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 5, 2025
The match got off to a lively start and the deadlock was broken in the 35th minute by Raymond Daniels after Trésor Tshibwabwa Yamba Yamba's clearance ricocheted off the attacker before hitting the back of the net to hand Polokwane a 1-0 lead.
However, Tshibwabwa made amends in the 41st minute as the big central defender headed home Keletso Makgalwa's well-taken free-kick to level matters and the score was 1-1 at the interval following a lively first half on a wet pitch in Polokwane.
BULLET HEADER 💣
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 5, 2025
Trésor Yamba gets the equaliser for Sekhukhune Utd ⚽👇
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc @Betway_za pic.twitter.com/tx9Gw5D3ik
Daniels continued to be a thorn in Babina Noko's defence after the restart and the experienced attacker had a chance to restore Rise and Shine's lead on the hour-mark, but he was superbly denied by goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare.
Both teams searched for the winning goal in the latter stages of the Limpopo Derby encounter, but the two teams failed to keep their attempts on target as they were either blocked or missed the goalposts and ultimately the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Polokwane (1) 1 (Daniels 35')
Sekhukhune (1) 1 (Tshibwabwa 41')
Polokwane: Sapunga, Matuludi, Ndlovu, Nikani, Nkaki, Maphangule (Baloyi 90'+3), Kambala, Daniels, Ramabu (Batlhabane 86'), Letshedi (Marema 46'), Appollis.
Sekhukhune: Sangare, Tshibwabwa, Letlapa, Mkhabela, Cardoso, Mkhize, Monare (Mokhuaone 66'), Ohizu, Makgalwa (Rammala 83'), Mntambo (Kapinga 83'), Otladisa (Mokoane 90'+1)