Unbeaten Marumo Gallants were denied their first win of the DStv Premiership season after Royal AM struck late in the second half to force a 2-2 draw.
DStv Premiership
Result: Royal AM 2-2 Marumo Gallants
Date: 21 August 2022
Venue: Chatsworth Stadium
Thwihli Thwahla handed a debut to Lesvin Stoffels and first starts to Phila Mzila Siphesihle Msomi while Andre De Jong dropped to the bench, Gallants meanwhile also gave new signing Kenyan midfielder Sven Yidah his debut.
Romain Folz's charges were forceful in the early exchanges as Junior Dion almost gave them the lead with a strike unmarked in the box that was repelled by goalkeeper Zakahle Ngcobo after a knock-down by Celimpilo Ngema.
The visitors remained on the front foot and Ndabayithethwa eventually put them ahead on 15 minutes with a looped toe-poke from the edge of the box that found the top corner after he was teed up by Ngema.
AM raised their game but started to click with combination play after the half-hour mark and Stoffels levelled matters on the stroke of half-time with a curling strike in the box towards the far post after he was setup by Tebogo Potsane.
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Bahlabane Ba Ntwa had a perfect start in the second stanza as Dion restored their lead seven minutes in with a towering header at the near post after a cross by Ngema.
Folz's men had a good ball retention as they kept Royal AM at bay, threatened going forward and Thwihli Thwahla reacted by making a triple attacking change in the last 15 minutes, as strikers De Jong, Ruzaigh Gamildien and Mxolisi Macuphu were introduced in places of Potsane, Msomi and Stoffels.
AM pinned Gallants in and around their box and Macuphu had a big chance to level matters in the last seven minutes but he guided a free header horribly wide at the near post after a cross by Thabo Matlaba.
The hosts eventually snatched the equaliser in stoppage time courtesy of Ricardo Nascimento who had a tap-in from close range after goalkeeper Washington Arubi had saved Mdundo Thikazi's initial shot.
Here's how they lined up:
Royal AM: Ngcobo, Mogaila, Mzila, Matlaba, Potsane, Phalane, Manganyi, Nascimento, Ndlovu, Msomi, Stoffels
Subs: Nyame, Ncobeni, Pelembe, Dlamini, Macuphu, De Jong, Cele, Gamildien, Thikazi
Marumo Gallants: Arubi, Khiba, Hlatshwayo, Gumede, Mabotja, Sibeko, Ndlondlo, Yidah, Ngema, Otladisa, Dion
Subs: Ngcobo, Manaka, Chivaviro, Manaka, Mphambaniso, Ravhuhali, Thangwane, Kumalo, Makudubela, Mokgopa.
