Absa Premiership
Teams: Polokwane City 1-1 Golden Arrows
Date: 19 January 2020
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Polokwane City moved off the bottom of the Absa Premiership table after securing a point against Golden Arrows at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Clinton Larsen handed a debut to Sicelokuhle Hlatshwayo in the Rise and Shine defence as the home side looked to move off the foot of the league table.
The change in defence did not pay off immediately as Arrows got the opening goal after just eight minutes courtesy of a fine header from Knox Mutizwa after some good build-up play.
Polokwane did manage to show a bit of fight after that but they were met by a solid Sifiso Mlungwana, who produced a few crucial saves to deny te home side an equaliser after the 20-minute mark.
Steve Komphela's took control in the latter stages of the half, although they were unable to add to their advantage as Mutizwa and Lerato Lamola squandered chances in the final five minutes.
Larsen opted to re-shuffle his pack 10 minutes into the second stanza as Kenneth Nthatheni made way for Wiseman Maluleke tp bolster Rise and Shine's midfield.
The hosts eventually got their reward in the 69th minute as Mlungwana parried Themba Chauke's close-range strike into the path of Mohammed Anas, who made no mistake from close range.
Siyabonga Dube nearly restored Arrows' lead with 15 minutes remaining after getting on the end of Mutizwa's cross, but George Chigova was on hand to to make save.
Try as they may, Komphela's charges were unable to find a way past the Polokwane defence as both sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Here's how they lined up:
Polokwane: 1. Chigova, 2. Mvelase, 24. Hlongwane, Hlatshwayo, 28. Nthatheni, Chauke, 15. Musona, 20. Phiri, 9. Mashumba, 8. J. Maluleke, Mashlasela
Subs: 40. Chibwe, 25. W. Maluleke, 14. Manaka, 10. Tlolane, Nene, 3. Anas, Mokiti.
Arrows: 36. Mlungwana, 14. S.Dube, 29. Sibisi, 20. Mathiane, 2. Nkombelo, 5. Shitolo, 26. Phiri, 25. Mtshali, 15. Makhubela, 41. Lamola, 18. Mutizwa.
Subs: 32. N.Gumede, 23. L.Dube, 13. Lunga, 4. Venter, 11. Sibiya, 31. Zuke, 34. Khwela.
