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Arrows and Galaxy play out to a draw

football18 January 2025 16:14| © Backpage TXT
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Golden Arrows and TS Galaxy played out a 1-1 draw in their Betway Premiership meeting at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale on Saturday afternoon.

The result sees Abafana Bes’thende and the Rockets remain in sixth on 19 points and 11th on 15 points respectively.

Arrows have recorded three draws from their last four league outings, while Galaxy extended their unbeaten run to eight matches.

Arrows found their footing in the game from the early stages and should have claimed the lead as early as the third minute, as Angelo Van Rooi powered through a couple of challenges and into the penalty area before shooting straight at Galaxy goalkeeper Eliezer Tape.

On 17 minutes the hosts deservedly went ahead, with birthday boy Velemseni Ndwandwe getting ahead of his marker to meet Siyanda Mthanti’s corner kick and score with a glancing header.

Galaxy responded strongly and levelled the game at 1-1 just three minutes later.

A well-worked move down the left ended with Solomon Letsoenyo crossing for Victor Letsoalo, who nodded home with a close-range, diving header.

Arrows created the next big chance on 34 minutes, as Mthanti’s fine cross from the right picked out the late run of Van Rooi, but he was again denied by the ‘keeper as Tape pushed away a goal-bound header to keep the score level.

On the cusp of injury time at the end of the first half, the visitors were inches away from a second goal when midfielder Nhlanhla Mgaga struck the post with a long-range drive, and the follow-up saw Arrows goalkeeper Ismail Watenga forced into a sharp save by Marks Munyai.

The Rockets continued to look strong early in the second half, and Abafana Bes’thende responded by introducing striker Ryan Moon on the hour mark to freshen up their attack.

However, neither side was able to replicate the kind of penetration they enjoyed in the first 45 minutes, with even half-chances hard to come by at either end of the field.

Yet there was one glaring opportunity early in injury time at the end of the match, as the visitors’ Mlungisi Mbunjana dribbled into a fine scoring position, only to blaze his effort over the target and leave the game locked at 1-1.

The teams will return to Betway Premiership action on Sunday 2 February, with Galaxy at home to Cape Town City and Arrows away to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Golden Arrows (1) 1 (Ndwandwe 17’)

TS Galaxy (1) 1 (Letsoalo 20’)

Arrows: Watenga, Theron, Shitolo, Mantshiyane, Cele, Dube (Tlolane 90+2’), Sibiya (Ncube 78’), Ndwandwe, Van Rooi (Zwane 90+2’), Mthanti (Mchunu 78’), Malinga (Moon 59’)

Galaxy: Tape, Munyai, Ndamane, Kabini, Letsoenyo, Mgaga (Mvelase 86’), Mbunjana, Sebelebele (Dithejane 64’), Mahlangu (Masiya 86’), Zajmovic (Dolly 69’), Letsoalo (Sovsic 86’)

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