SuperSport United were held to a 1-1 draw by Golden Arrows at the Mbombela Stadium in their Absa Premiership on Sunday afternoon.
SuperSport were looking to get back to winning ways after four draws in a row across all competitions, two in the Absa Premiership, one in the MTN8 final over 120 minutes where they eventually lost on penalties and another cup draw although they came out victorious in that Telkom Knockout (TKO) clash with Polokwane City.
Arrows on the other, may have beaten Black Leopard at the start of the month, but have also struggled in recent weeks after losing to Baroka in the TKO and league losses to Mamelodi Sundowns and Highlands Park.
Last season SuperSport won their home fixture while the two teams played out to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture.
Kaitano Tembo’s team got off to a good start as they threatened the Arrows goal early on with United and had the first chance of the game as Reneilwe Letsholonyane slipped Ghampani Lungu through on goal, his effort, however was well saved by goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede.
The keeper was then again called into action in the tenth minute, producing an acrobatic save to push a long-range free-kick from Aubrey Modiba onto the crossbar.
SuperSport were asking all the questions and came close again as James Keene missed the target with his header from 12-yards out.
Clinton Larsons’ team then woke from them slumber producing their first effort on the 37th minute mark but Lerato Lamola long-range strike was saved by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori finally opened the scoring just two minutes before the interval as Gumede’s pinpoint cross was headed in by Keene from close-range.
1-0 to the home side at the break.
SuperSPort nearly doubled their lead just five minutes after the break but Modiba’s strike grazed the outside of the upright.
Modiba then came close again as his shot from the edge of the box cannoned off the upright on the 68th minute.
Arrows, however, then hit back two minutes later as a lightning counter-attack was finished off by Siboniso Conco’s whose shot took a wicked deflection before flying past Williams.
Abafana Bes’thende then came close to a winner as Sibusiso Sibeko powerful strike forced a spectacular stop from Williams.
Arrows were continued to push forward in search of a winner, but SuperSport managed to hold on for the draw.