Highlands, Stars share the spoils

HIGHLANDS Park and Platinum Stars played to a 2-all draw in an exciting PSL match at the Makhulong stadium in Tembisa last night, but both sides will rue not having finished their 2016 campaign with a win.

Football fans were treated to a first half that produced all four goals, with the Lions of the North, as Highlands Park are known, opening the scoring in the 26th minute when SA under-23 international defensive midfielder Mothobi Mvala latched on to the end of a corner kick from Franklyn Cale, to head the hosts into the lead.

Two minutes later, Highlands doubled their score, and this time it was Zimbabwean striker Charlton Mashumba, whose right foot slotted the ball into the back of the Platinum Stars goal net from a Cale corner kick.

To their credit, Platinum Stars showed character and began to create opportunities. Midfielder Robert Ngambi scored in the 32nd minute to record his fourth goal of the league season, while Namibian international striker Benson Shilongo collected a pass from Vuyo Mere to level matters one minute before half-time.

Mere’s defensive experience was worth its weight in gold for the visitors, while the hosts relied heavily on the acumen of Cale to swing in some dangerous crosses from set pieces.

In the quest to get a winning goal and pick up the valuable three match points, Platinum Stars looked the more eager of the two sides, but found experienced goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini in good form between the posts for the home side.

Platinum Stars finished their 2016 campaign with 14 points from as many matches, just one place above Highlands Park on the league table, and will have a long break to ponder over their chances for the second half of the season, before they host Orlando Pirates in their next league match on February 8 in 2017.

The Highlands Park team will eat their Christmas lunch with the relegation bogey in the back of their minds as they find themselves second last on the league table with 13 points from 15 matches. They face Cape Town City in a home encounter on February 7 next year. – ANA