Online Reporter
TAWANDA MASWANHISE is turning into a trump card, in front of goal, for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell.
The Warriors forward struck again, on his return from international duty, as Motherwell settled for a 1-1 draw with Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday.
It’s now five draws from five matches for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Maswanhise opened the scoring before Dundee levelled early in the second half.
Fresh from the international break, the Steelmen made several changes to the side that lined up against Kilmarnock a fortnight ago.
Regan Charles-Cook made his first start since joining the club in the summer, with Stephen Welsh making his debut following his loan move from Celtic.
Johnny Koutroumbis returned to the starting 11 following his short spell on the sidelines.
Elijah Just made the bench following his international travels over the last two weeks, with Motherwell Academy Graduate Rocco McColm named on the bench for the first time.
In wet conditions, the first ten minutes was played with largely any clear-cut chances.
The first half chance for the Steelmen arrived from a set piece, when Emmanuel Longelo delivered deep to the back post area for Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who headed back across goal, but nobody in claret and amber was there to convert.
The next chance arrived shortly after on nine minutes. Elliot Watt switched the play eloquently to Longelo, who worked the ball to Ibrahim Said, but the Nigerian fired high and wide.
Longelo was involved again after 15 minutes, winning the ball back on the edge of the Dundee penalty area. Stamatelopoulos fizzed a pass across to Maswanhise, but his effort travelled over the bar.
On 22 minutes, Koutroumbis found himself in behind the Dundee backline; he got to the byline and found Maswanhise, but his shot was blocked before it reached the target.
With Motherwell continuing to push for the opener, Longelo produced a wonderful bit of skill to beat his man in the wide area; he clipped the ball to Maswanhise whose header was caught by keeper Jon McCracken.
That was a warning sign.
On 33 minutes, Maswanhise went one better.
Picking up the ball 25 yards out, he drove into the box, beat his man and drilled the ball into the net to open the scoring. 0-1.
Motherwell came close to a second eight minutes later.
Dundee levelled the game on 48 minutes through Luke Graham, who finished past Ward to bring his side back into the game. − Sports Reporter/motherwell.co.uk
