Six of the best for Wits, City

JABU MALULEKE continued his age-defying heroics during a six goal thriller that saw Polokwane City share the points in a 3-3 draw with Absa Premiership pace-setters Bidvest Wits at the Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday.

Maluleke has been arguably the most consistent performer in the PSL in the last five seasons and is showing no signs of slowing down despite being on the wrong side of 30 years old.

The captain of Rise and Shine, who turns 37 in two months’ time, duly walked away with yet another Man of the Match award after salvaging the point for his side with a late goal from trademark free-kick.

The veteran from Soweto had also been instrumental in creating City’s other two goals.

It had looked like City would grab all three points against Gavin Hunt’s championship contenders as they raced into a 2-0 lead.

Goals from Thando Booi and Sammy Seabi in the 23rd and 28th minutes respectively got the partisan home crowd up in song.

But a man who made his mark on the football scene playing out of Polokwane stopped them in their tracks. Former Baroka FC star Gift Motupa scored two quick goals in the 34th and 38th minutes to get the Clever Boys on level terms and turn the match into a thrilling contest.

The visitors then got their noses ahead courtesy of a headed goal by skipper Thulani Hlatshwayo just after the hour mark.

The game see-sawed from one end to the other as City chased the equaliser and Wits looked to catch them on the break to kill the match off.

But then that man Maluleke struck from a set piece is he has done so often in the orange kit to ensure a point went into the kitty for a City side that is having arguably their best start to the season ever.

The Limpopo side now has 27 points from their 17 matches.

In yesterday’s other match, SuperSport United beat Bloemfonteim Celtic 2-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Bradley Grobler and Teboho Mokoena found the net for the home side while Tshegofatso Mabaso scored the consolation goal for the visitors.