Stellenbosch FC struck late in the second half to rescue a 1-1 draw with Polokwane City, who extended their winless run on Friday night.
Betway Premiership
Result: Stellenbosch FC 1-1 Polokwane City
Date: 28 February 2024
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
Coach Steve Barker handed recalls to Andre de Jong, Khomotjo Lekoloane, Genino Palace, Ibraheem Jabaar and Enyinnaya Kazie Godswill following the midweek win over Magesi.
Jabaar made history by taking the field as he become the youngest player in Stellenbosch history to reach 100 appearances for the club at the age of 22 years, 4 months and four days.
The home side looked the livelier of the two sides in the opening stages and managed to carve out a couple half chances, with Palace and Devin Titus unable to find the target in the opening 15 minutes.
Rise and Shine, meanwhile, were quite happy to sit back and soak up the pressure although they struggled to trouble Stellenbosch on the counter as the likes of Oswin Appollis and Mokibelo Ramabu were kept quiet in the first half.
That all changed in the second half when Ramabu latched onto Appollis' long-ball before picking out Bonginkosi Dlamini, who fired home at the near post for his second league goal of the season.
The hosts nearly found a response just before the hour mark as Titus picked up a loose ball just outside the box and unleashed a powerful volley that beat Manuel Sarpunga and crashed the crossbar.
Coach Barker made a triple change soon after as Thato Khiba, Ashley Cupido and Sanele Barns replaced Palace, De Jong and Lesiba Nku as they went in search of the equaliser.
The changes eventually paid off for Stellenbosch, who bagged the equaliser in the 91st minute as Titus sent the ball into path of Cupido who volleyed home his fifth league goal of the season to seal a point for the hosts.
Here's how they line up:
Stellenbosch FC: 17. Stephens, 5. Lekoloane, 16. Enyinnaya, 45. Toure, 21. Basadien, 24. Moloisane, 27. Jabaar, 28. Palace, 7. Nku, 18. De Jong, 34. Titus
Subs: 30. Masuluke, 2. Onyango, 3. Mdaka, 19. Kihba, 8. Nduli, 20. Barns, 39. Abrahams, 11. Phili, 9. Cupido
Polokwane City: 1. Sapunga, 22. Makhubeka, 4. Nikani, 33. Ndlovu, 34. Nkaki, 21. Kambala, 7. Ramabu, 14. Maphangule, 17. Dlamini, 8. Letshedi, 7. Appolls
Subs: 40. Mathebula, 5. Baloyi, 42. Manthosi, 31. Motsa, 47. Batlhabane, 16. Goovadia, 10. Marema, 13. Nana, 23. Ntamane
