SuperSport held again

Michaelson Gumede

Kaitano Tembo’s SuperSport United have now registered three Absa Premiership draws on the trot after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Golden Arrows at the Mbombela Stadium yesterday.

James Keene got his third goal of the season to hand United the lead moments before half-time when the English striker benefited from poor defending.

Goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede could not hold on to a Onismor Bhasera strike and the ball fell to Keene, whose tame shot crept into the back of the net with defender Nkosinathi Sibisi unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Clinton Larsen was the first to make changes in personnel at the start of the second half when he took off Siphamandla Sabelo and brought on Sibusiso Sibeko.

Before the hour mark, Larsen had to turn to his bench again. This time, his hand was forced as Nkanyiso Mngwengwe picked up an injury. The Arrows skipper limped off and passed on the captain’s armband to Gumede, while club veteran Musa Bilankulu took his place at the heart of defence.

Abafana Bes’thende were relentless as they probed for an equaliser, piling pressure on the Matsatsantsa A Pitori defence.

Arrows eventually got back on level terms in the 68th minute – moments after Aubrey Modiba struck the woodwork for United.

The KwaZulu-Natal side launched a counter-attack, with Sibeko laying off the final pass to Siboniso Conco. He made no mistake, lashing the ball past Ronwen Williams to score his first senior goal for Arrows.

Tembo handed youngster Kamohelo Mahlatsi his second appearance off the bench when he came on for Bafana Bafana midfielder Tebogo Mokoena.

Arrows fluffed a great opportunity to get their noses in front with five minutes left with Lerato Lamola sprinting past Clayton Daniels.

However, his cross for Conco went agonisingly across the face of goal into touch. At the opposite end, Bongani Khumalo came close to giving United victory in the dying moments, but his header hit the crossbar.