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DURBAN. — Zimbabwe international forward, Knox Mutizwa, converted a penalty and missed another in a KwaZulu-Natal derby which produced four goals in the South Africa DStv Premiership yesterday.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Golden Arrows handed Bafana Bafana call-up Thabani Zuke a start and recalled Mutizwa from the draw with TS Galaxy, while Usuthu rewarded Bonginkosi Ntuli, for his exploits in Blantyre, in the 3-1 win over Callisto Pasuwa’s Nyasa Big Bullets.
Usuthu struck first from a corner-kick by Sphesihle Maduna, midway in the first half, which Xola Mlambo got at the end of, for their first Premiership goal.
Their joy was cut short, on the half-hour mark, after Arrows pulled level from the penalty-spot, courtesy of Mutizwa, following a hand ball in the area by Tsepo Masilela.
Arrows were awarded another penalty, six minutes from half-time, as Nkosinathi Sibisi went down in the area.
But, this time, Mutizwa fired his effort against the upright.
With 15 minutes to go, Matome Mathiane headed home from a well-taken corner, to put Arrows into the lead.
However, Usuthu replied in the space of minutes, through a penalty, converted by Ntuli, following a foul in the area.
Meanwhile, Maritzburg United climbed up to seventh spot with a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Washington Arubi’s Marumo Gallants last night.
The Team of Choice recalled Daylon Claasen and Brandon Theron, with Bongokuhle Hlongwane suspended, while Gallants made only one change from their CAF Confederation Cup win over Futuro Kings, as Letsie Koapeng was handed his debut.
Maritzburg made a double substitution, straight from the half-time break, as Nazeer Allie replaced Richard Zumah while Leletu Skelem came on for Rowan Human while Gallants threw on Miguel Timm for Edgar Manaka.
Those changes made a huge difference in the opening exchanges of the second stanza, with the game flowing much better.
Katlego Otladisa had a big chance to break the deadlock for the visitors four minutes before the hour-mark after going through on goal but his side-footed shot was saved. With the game still there for the taking, in the dying minutes, Amadou Soukouna snatched the winner for Ernst Middendorp’s charges in stoppage time, with a sensational strike, from the edge of the box, which found the top corner, to leave Gallants winless in the league. — Kickoff.com/Sports Reporter
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