Polokwane City and Cape Town City shared the spoils in a tense 2-2 draw in the DStv Premiership at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the Citizens remain winless in each of their last eight assignments in the league.
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With the scoreline at 2-1 in favour of Polokwane City at halftime, Eric Tinkler’s team talk at the break appeared to have worked as Khanyisa Mayo levelled matters just 30 seconds after the restart. The result saw City remain in 7th position, while Rise & Shine ended the latest gameweek in 11th place.
After a slow start to the game, it was Polokwane City who edged the visitors to the ball possession count and threatened early on. Then, after a slick passing move toward the City box in the 7th minute of the match, Mokibelo Ramabu found himself in acres of space before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.
City began seeing more of the ball after conceding the early goal but found it difficult to break the well-organised Polokwane City backline. Taahir Goedeman and Jaedin Rhodes were proactive going forward and often probed on the right-hand flank of the opposition defence.
Rise and Shine doubled their advantage at the half-hour mark, as Given Mashikinya added his name to the scoresheet. After finding himself in a favourable position on the edge of the area, Ramabu let off a shot that was parried back into play before Mashikinya guided the ball home from close range.
Eric Tinkler’s charges pulled one back on the stroke of halftime as Thabiso Kutumela joined in on the action. After being awarded a corner in the 44th minute, Goedeman played in an accurate cross that was expertly met by Kutumela with a looping header on the edge of the six-yard box.
LEVEL JUST AFTER HALFTIME
City levelled matters within 30 seconds of the new half, as Mayo made the most of a freekick situation on the edge of the Polokwane City area. Assisted by Darwin Gonzalez, Mayo’s glancing header from close range left goalkeeper Lindokuhle Mathebula fuming at his backline.
The Citizens edged the home side to the possession count and created numerous goal-scoring chances leading up to the 75th-minute mark. With Cape Town City applying pressure, Rise and Shine were forced to defend their quarters for much of the half.
Polokwane City ended the second half on a high and were presented with a couple of clear-cut opportunities toward the end of the game. Sitting tight, City did well to ward off the home side’s attacking advances as the game ended in a 2-2 scoreline at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Polokwane City: (1) 2 (Ramabu 7’, Mashikinya 30’)
Cape Town City: (0) 2 (Kutumela 45’ Mayo 46’)
Polokwane City: Mathebula, Nkwe, Nkaki, Nikani, Baloyi, Kambala (Baloyi 84’), Ramabu, van Heerden (Thutho 45’), Mashikinya, Appollis, Tshabalala (Mapfumo 72’)
Cape Town City: Keet, Fisher (Tshimanga 40’), Gordinho, Mkhize, Gonzalez, Petrus, Mokhoane (van Heerden 40’), Rhodes (Sereets 78’), Kutumela, Mayo (Ahshene 79’), Goedeman (Leshabela 74’)