TS Galaxy have broken a five-match losing streak in the Betway Premiership by holding Stellenbosch FC 1-1 at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday evening.
The Rockets claimed an early lead via Junior Zindoga, but Stellies struck back in the second half with a leveller from Wonderboy Makhubu, extending their unbeaten run in the league to six matches. Galaxy and Stellenbosch remained in eighth and ninth spots respectively in the standings.
Galaxy got off to an absolute flyer, claiming the lead with just 45 seconds on the clock. Victor Letsoalo’s cross-shot from the left of the penalty area forced a finger-tip save from Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Stephens, but he was powerless to prevent Junior Zindoga striking home from the subsequent loose ball.
Stellenbosch recovered from their poor start and offered a threat of an equaliser through most of the first half, though they very nearly went two goals down a few minutes before the interval, with Mpho Mvelase getting around Stephens and shooting on target, only for Mosa Lebusa to make a heroic clearance.
In the 43rd minute, Stellies came close to levelling the game as Devin Titus’s free kick found the head of Wonderboy Makhubu – his downward effort bounced up and appeared destined for the back of the net, only for Ira Tape to pull off an excellent save.
A goal down at halftime, Stellenbosch opted for a double change at the start of the second stanza, with Tshegofatso Mabasa and Thabo Molisane introduced off the bench.
The hosts’ greater attacking impetus paid dividends in the 57th minute, with Makhubu meeting Titus’s in-swinging cross from the right and powering a header beyond Tape – with the ball squirming under the body of the ‘keeper – to make it 1-1.
The Rockets responded well and should have reclaimed the lead on 70 minutes, with Seluleki Mahlambi clipping in a great cross from the right to pick out Mvelase, but the midfielder’s header flashed over the crossbar.
And the visitors were agonisingly close to a 90th-minute winner, as a rebound from a long ball fell kindly for Zindoga – with Stephens out of position – but his attempt to lob the ball travelled just over the target and rippled the top of the net rather than the back of it.
Stellenbosch will return to Premiership action on Wednesday, 18 March, with a match away to Golden Arrows, while Galaxy’s next league assignment is at home to Orlando Pirates on Sunday, 22 March.
Stellenbosch FC (0) 1 (Makhubu 57’)
TS Galaxy (1) 1 (Zindoga 1’)
STELLENBOSCH: Stephens, Godswill, Stanic (Moloisane 46’), Lebusa, Tiwani, Butsaka (Mabasa 46’), Mthiyane, Makhubu (Cupido 75’), Phili (Mokobodi 83’), Jabaar, Titus (Lodisang 90+2’)
GALAXY: Tape, Motaung, K. Mahlangu, S Silva, Letsoenyo, Kakora, Mbunjana, Mahlambi (Zulu 86’), Mvelase (Maduna 74’), Letsoalo (George 79’), Zindoga