Arrows, City share the spoils

Golden Arrows and Cape Town City played to an entertaining 1-1 draw in their DStv Premiership match at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu,Durban, on Tuesday evening.

The Citizens looked on course for victory after a first goal for the club from Kajally Drammeh, but Abafana Bes’thende struck back late on via Divine Lunga to secure a share of the spoils.

The Cape side moved up one spot to 12th place on 10 points, while the Durban hosts dropped to seventh on 12 points.

City had the first shot in anger, with Thamsanqa Mkhize letting fly from long range on eight minutes, but Arrows goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede made a comfortable save.

The hosts offered some early threat in attack, with striker Ryan Moon constantly looking to get in behind the City defence, but they managed to catch him offside on a couple of occasions in the first 20 minutes.

The Cape side soon had another opening, with Darwin Gonzalez getting away a low shot which looked destined for the back of the net, but Gumede made a fine save.

However, City kept on pressing forward and were rewarded on 27 minutes when Gambian attacker Kajally Drammeh finished off a superb solo effort with a low shot beyond the ‘keeper for 1-0.

The Durban side nearly hit back immediately via Velemseni Ndwandwe, but the attacking midfielder put a long-range effort just wide of the target, and they were also forced into an early injury substitution when Ntsikelelo Nxadi made way for Themba Mantshiyane on 33 minutes.

Abafana Bes’thende had a great chance to level the game in the 40th minute when Moon got on the end of Nduduzo Sibiya’s cross, but he was denied by a fine save from Darren Keet to see the half end 1-0 in favour of the away side.

Arrows made a change at the start of the second half, with Siyabonga Khumalo replacing Moon, and they built some attacking pressure to create chances for Ndwandwe and Sibiya which were both denied by Keet.

City also needed Taariq Fielies to make a goal-line clearance on 51 minutes, with Ndwandwe chipping on target after a rare spill from Keet. Yet the glovesman was back to form a few minutes later to make an excellent save from Pule Mmodi’s drive.

The Citizens responded to their loss of control by bringing on Mduduzi Mdantsane and Jordan Bender off the bench just after the hour mark.

They continued to cede chances to the hosts, but at least offered up more of a threat on the counter, with Gonzalez and Khanyisa Mayo almost adding to their advantage around the midway point of the second half.

City looked set to see out the game and claim an away victory, but on 84 minutes a corner kick was somewhat fumbled by Keet and Divine Lunga pounced from close range to level the game at 1-1.

The scoreline could have been added to by either team – with Nqobeko Dlamini and Mayo having late chances for the hosts and visitors respectively – but ultimately the final whistle brought a share of the spoils.

Arrows will be back in Premiership action on 14 October when they host Stellenbosch FC, while City’s next league game is away to Richards Bay on 19 October.

Golden Arrows (0) 1 (Lunga 84’)

Cape Town City (1) 1 (Drammeh 27’)

Arrows: Gumede, Nxadi (Mantshiyane 33’), Ndlovu, Zuke, Lunga, Dube (Magawana 86’), Dlamini, Ndwandwe, Sibiya, Mmodi, Moon (Khumalo 46’)

City: Keet, Mkhize, Cupido, Fielies, Lakay, Mokeke, Ambina (Nodada 69’), Goedeman (Mdantsane 62’), Drammeh (Bender 62’), Gonzalez (Makola 90’), Mayo