Stellenbosch and Royal AM fought hard to a 2-2 draw at a sweltering Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It was a hard fought DStv Premiership match between two teams who are in the fight at the top of the table, with the home team finishing the match with ten men. Royal AM are second on 37 points, while Stellenbosch are sixth on 32 points.
Stellenbosch 2-2 Royal AM
The visitors grabbed the lead in the 14th minute, as Mxolisi Macuphi slotted past Sage Stephens, after some good work from Thabo Matlaba down the left to set him up.
Stellenbosch were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute after Nigerian Stanley Dimgba was brought down. Junior Mendieta stepped up to take the spot-kick, but the Argentinean’s attempt was saved by Patrick Nyame.
It was a first half with a number of chances at both ends, with Nyame making a few good saves to keep AM in front, and at the break the scoreline remained 1-0.
Royal AM almost made it two in the 50th minute, with Ndumiso Mabena unable to punish Stephens, after he almost allowed the ball to cross the goal line, but was able to recover. Dimgba went close in the 58th minute, but his shot was blocked by an AM defender, and Nyame was able to gather.
Steve Barker rung the changes, and his subs paid off, as two of them combined to find the equaliser. Antonio Van Wyk set up Judas Moseamedi, who slipped the ball past Nyame to make it 1-1
While the home team started to take control, they were almost punished when another slip in defence from Stephens in the 74th minute almost allowed AM in again, but the Stellies defence were able to clear the danger.
Moseamedi was set up again by Van Wyk in the 81st minute, but this time Nyame made a good save to deny the home team the lead.
Royal AM grabbed lead in the 83rd minute, substitute Tebogo Potsane making it 2-1, in slightly controversial matters. While the goalscorer was in an off-side position, the ball came to him off a Stellenbosch defender, and Victor Hlungwane allowed the goal.
It went from bad to worse a minute later as Zitha Kwinika was shown a second yellow card and sent off.
But Steve Barker’s team didn’t drop their heads, and they were level in the 89th minute, Moseamedi grabbing a second as he tapped in after Nyame had saved Van Wyk’s initial effort from a dangerous free kick.
