Wits drop points at Polokwane

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Polokwane City fought back to secure a point after playing to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Bidvest Wits at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

Jozef Vukusic’s men came into this encounter off the back of a 3-2 victory away to AmaZulu in their last league game.

Meanwhile, Gavin Hunt’s side dropped points in the previous clash after going down to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs.

Rise and Shine currently occupy sixth place in the Absa Premiership standings, seven points behind the Clever Boys in top spot.

The game got off to a relatively slow start, with with teams still sizing each other up. Wits have created more than the hosts, but have failed to conjure any clear cut chances in the final third.

Mohammed Anas should have opened the scoring for the hosts after meeting a cross on the left, but the striker steered his effort wide of the target with Wits keeper Darren Keet beaten.

Polokwane’s persistence paid off as they were rewarded in the 23rd minute after Jabulani Maluleke whipped a great free kick into the path of Bongile Booi, who put the ball into the net with his header.

The home side then doubled their lead five minutes later from another set piece, with Maluleke this time picking out Sammy Seabi, who catches the ball beautifully to put the ball past Keet.

The Clever Boys did managed to pull a goal back in the 35th minute when Gift Motupa unleashed a long range screamer to City keeper George Chigova at the near post.

The first goal gave Wits confidence to snatch another and they soon forward as levelled matters when Motupa latched on to a corner from Deon Hotto to expertly aim his header into the net, with Chigova well-beaten.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead with four minutes left to play until the break when Lehlohonolo Majoro turned the ball into the back of the net, but his effort was ruled offside.

Rise and Shine nearly took the lead in stoppage time through another Maluleke free kick after he picked out Anas, who’s header sailed over the target.

The two teams went into the half time break all square at two goals apiece.

The second half has got off to a somewhat slow start after a frantic end to the first.

Wits then took the lead for the first time in the game after the 61st minute when Thulani Hlatshwayo intercepted the ball from Simphiwe Hlongwane to slot the ball past Chigova.

The Students began to dominate proceedings as the game went on, while City narrowly avoided turning one of their deliveries into the area and into their own net via a header.

Hotto should have extended his sides lead after 71 minutes of play when he unleashed a venomous strike from distance to rattle the crossbar.

Motupa should have completed his hat-trick and Wits’ fourth goal, but his actobatic strike was well saved by Chigova.

Keet came to his sides rescue a minute later when he kept Wits’ lead intact after denying Polokwane’s goal-bound effort.

Having setup the first two goal for City from a deadball situation, Maluleke equalised for the home side with a thunderbolt free kick, 3-3.

Wits had another goal disallowed in stoppage time after Majoro’s effort was kept out by Chigova before Haashim Domingo slotted the ball home, but the substitutes effort was ruled offside.

Both sides pushed forward in search of the winning goal closing stages, but were forced to settle for a point each at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

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Dylan