Richards Bay and Golden Arrows play to entertaining 2-2 draw in KZN derby

Richards Bay scored the first goal of the night via the penalty spot in the ninth minute. Great interplay in the box led to Golden Arrows defender Ntandoyenkosi Mabaso going for a challenge that missed the ball, leaving referee Abongile Tom no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Moses Mthembu proceeded to fire an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

The visitors got into their attacking groove and kept the Natal Rich Boys under pressure in their own half, but failed to capitalise despite dominating the early period of the match.

However, the equaliser was not far away. Golden Arrows star Siyanda Ndlovu received the ball down the touchline after a beautifully timed run and fired a dangerous ball in front of goal. Striker Lungelo Nguse was on hand to latch onto the cross, leaving Richards Bay stopper Ian Otieno no chance.

The hosts pushed hard in the closing stages of the opening stanza, creating a couple of half-chances via Lundi Mahala, but Golden Arrows' defence always scrambled.

Richard's Bay thought they pulled ahead in the dying embers after a long ball ricocheted off the crossbar and ended up in the back of the net, but the referee disallowed the goal as goalkeeper Thakasnai Mbanjwa was clearly fouled.

In the second stanza, Abafana Bes'thende broke the deadlock early. Philami Kumalo pounced on a loose ball and dinked one over the top to put a charging Ndlovu in space. The forward charged some 30m with the ball and rounded the keeper to finish off a great goal.

Minutes later, replacement striker Wandile Ngema delighted the home crowd with a beautiful effort that narrowly missed the top left corner of the goal.  

The seesaw nature of the fixture continued as Mahala was finally rewarded. The forward rose high to meet a curling cross from Mthembu, producing an accurate header past a leaping Mbanjwa to make it 2-2 with 23 minutes to play.

Enterprising play resulted in a snapshot from replacement Junior Dion in the dying embers of the match, but his curling shot was well saved by Otieno.

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