Golden Arrows failed to overtake Kaizer Chiefs after playing to a 1-1 draw against Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
Christopher Sithole and Junior Dion were restored to the Gallants line-up, while John Mwengani, Keenan Phillips, Nhlanhla Zwane, Shadrack Kobedi and Kagiso Malinga came in for Arrows.
Zimbabwean Daniel Msendami could’ve broken the deadlock on eight minutes through a teasing effort from a tight angle, but he dragged well wide.
Msendami got a clearer chance eight minutes later through a deliver in-behind, but he slammed into the side-netting with goalkeeper Edward Maova in no man’s land.
Gallants squandered a glorious chance near the half-hour mark as Edgar Manaka failed to beat Maova from the penalty spot after Masindi Nemtajela had gone down in the area.
However, the visitors’ resistance were broken a minute to halftime when Dion combined with a clever assist from Nemtajela to apply a point-blank finish.
Substitutions for Arrows ahead of the second half saw Brandon Theron introduced for Zwane and Phillips sacrificed for Sabelo Sithole.
Dion almost had a brace after the break through a glancing header from the near post of the area following a corner-kick, but he missed target.
Abafana Besthende clawed their way back five minutes in the second half when Nduduzo Sibiya fired in from the penalty spot following a foul on Sbonelo Cele.
The home team desperately looked to regain the lead with Msendami, Sithole, Dion and danger man Nemtajela, but didn’t rattle the net.
With the clash even towards the final whistle, it finished all square as the result saw both teams remain in the mid-table bracket.
Confirmed line-ups:
Golden Arrows: Maova ,Shitolo, Mwengani, Phillips , Malinga, Zwane, S.Cele, Ndwandwe , Sibiya, Mthanti, Kobedi
Subs: Gumede, Nxadi, Theron , Mbanjwa,, Mutizwa,L.Dube, Sithole, Tlolane, B.Cele
Marumo Gallants: Arubi, Sithole, Mabotja, Mathiane, Ncube, Msendami, Manaka, Mahlatsi, Nemtajela, Sibiya, Dion
Subs: Akpeyi, Conde, Chabatsane, Mhango, Nhlapo, Dhludhlu, M. Khumalo., Mokobodi, E. Khumalo
