Stellenbosch battled back on two occasions to force a 2-2 draw with high-flying Royal AM in an entertaining DStv Premiership clash on Sunday afternoon.
Result: Stellenbosch 2-2 Royal AM
Date: 20 March 2022
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
Thwihli Thwahla made five changes to the side that beat Swallows in the Nedbank Cup, with Victor Letsoalo, Mxolisi Macuphu, Ndumiso Mabena, Kabelo Mahlasela and Mokete Mogaila coming into the starting line-up.
The visitors had a bright start as Macuphu opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a first-time strike at the near post after a cut-back by Thabo Matlaba from the left flank.
Steve Barker's charges were threatening on transitions and were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute after Stanley Dimgba was brought down in the box by Mahlasela, but Junior Mendieta's spot-kick was saved by shot-stopper Hugo Nyame.
Stellies had the attacking momentum in the latter stages of the second stanza but could not trouble Nyame although they denied John Maduka's charges opportunities on counter-attacks.
The Western Cape side almost gifted the visitors a goal early in the second stanza after goalkeeper Sage Stephens took his eyes off a back pass by Zitha Kwinika, which trickled under his foot towards the open net but he rushed back to parry off the line.
Stellies lacked the cutting edge upfront and on the hour-mark, Barker brought on Judas Moseamedi in place of Mendieta and the striker made an immediate impact by levelling matters three minutes later with a low finish at the back post off Antonio Van Wyk's cross.
Barker's men should have been 2-1 up in the last ten minutes after Moseamedi went clear on goal in the box but he was denied by Nyame in a one-on-one.
Thwihli Thwahla pounced on a quick transition just after that, as Tebogo Potsane went through on goal and tucked home a strike past Stephens at the near post.
Stellenbosch were reduced to ten men four minutes before time after after Kwinika got a second booking, but Moseamedi rescued a point for the home side and completed his brace in the last minute with a close-range finish from a rebound in the box.
Stellenbosch: 17. Stephens, 24. Kwinika, 26. Mcaba, 7. Van Rooyen, 8. Van Heerden, 6. Mthethwa, 27. Jabaar, 13. Dimgba, 15. Ortiz, 10. Mendieta, 9. Du Preez.
Subs: 35. Langeveldt, 4. De Goede, 25. Moseamedi,29. Van Wyk, 11. Khunyedi, 23. Adams, 19. Sinkala, 16. Johannes, 21. Isaacs.
Royal AM: 16. Nyame, 6. Kobedi, 14. Matlaba, 17. Mogaila, 18. Mashikinya, 13. Manganyi, 22. Rikhotso, 12. Mahlasela, 9. Macuphu, 10. Mabena, 13. Letsoalo
Subs: 1. Heugh, 50. Masuku, 34. Thikazi, 7. Pelembe, 45. George, 11. Potsane, 24. Lingwati, 19. Matjila, 42. Ncobeni
