Arrows, Baroka play to thrilling stalemate

by Bertin Basson

Sunday Jan 28, 2018. 17:50

Golden Arrows were held to a 2-2 draw by Baroka FC in an Absa Premiership clash at the Princes Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Sunday afternoon.

Gift Motupa bagged a brace for the visitors on a day in which the lead changed hands on several occasions in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The point moves Bakgaga up to seventh spot on the log standings, while Arrows remain in 10th with Danny Venter and Knox Mutizwa on target for Clinton Larsen's troops on the day.

Baroka threatened early and were unlucky not to take the lead int he 13th minute as Mduduzi Mdantsane's powerful shot rattled the woodwork with goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede getting the decisive touch to deny the visitors.

Bakgaga duly hit the front four minutes later as Motupa powered home through Gumede's legs following a defensive blunder from Sandile Zuke.

The hosts, though, would level matters before the break as Danny Venter rifled home a left-footed effort in the 42nd minute, after bursting past his man on the edge of the area.

Arrows carried that momentum into the second stanza and pulled ahead in the the 67th minute through Mutizwa. The Zimbabwe national on hand to poke home after Virgil Vries failed to keep hold of Lerato Lamola's stinging shot.

Baroka hit back eight minutes later as Motupa grabbed his eighth goal of the campaign. The forward with an instinctive finish after Abafana Bes’thende failed to clear their lines.

Thomas Chideu had a late chance to win it for the hosts in stoppage time, but the former Ajax Cape Town man sent his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Golden Arrows (1) 2 (Venter 42' Mutizwa 67')

Baroka FC (1) 2 (Motupa 17' 75')

Golden Arrows: Gumede; Mzava, Mngwengwe, Buthelezi, Nonyane - Venter (Magubane 81'), Zuke, Shongwe, Ndwandwe (Chideu 88') - Mahachi (Lamola 46'), Mutizwa.

Baroka FC: Vries; Kgoetyane, Banda, Shaku, Mohwatseleng - Sidumo (Kgaswane 57'), Madubanya, Mdantsane, Chawapiwa - Motupa (Mahashe 85'), Nguzana (Ngalande 56).