Matchday 5 - report

DURBAN, October 29 (Absa Premier League) – A brace from Bernard Parker helped Thanda Royal Zulu fight from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Golden Arrows at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday.
The Amabhubesi captain scored early in the second half after his side had slipped two goals behind following a crazy two minute spell at the end of the first period.
Richard Henyekane netted his sixth goal in three matches to fire Manqoba Mngqithi’s team ahead with midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi instantly doubling the advantage, before the visitors’ fight-back.
Early on it was one-way traffic as Abafana Bes’thende created the first opening after 10 minutes when Dikgacoi tried to lift his shot from the edge of the penalty area over Aubrey Mathibe, who was well alert to punch the ball away.
Philani Shange was next to try his luck, but failed to find the target as his 20-yard left-footed strike flew into the crowd.
Roger Palmgren’s team had to wait until midway through the first half for their first opening, which came courtesy of a Norman Smith strike from the right that was comfortably held by Helton Da Rocha.
Shange then had an excellent chance to put his side ahead but blasted over from 12-yards out, before another long-range effort, this time from July Mahlangu followed the same course.
The Thanda midfielder was again in the mix on the half-hour mark, but powered his header over the bar as the game became to open up.
But it was Arrows who drew first blood in the 37th minute when good work from Shange down the right saw him cross the ball for Henyekane to finish with a low shot into the corner from the centre of the penalty area.
The on-form striker then turned provider two minutes later when his corner from the left was met by his captain Dikgacoi for a low finish from close range as the home side went into the break with a comfortable lead.
A strong half-time talk by Palmgren seemed to have lifted his troops and they pulled one back seven minutes after the restart when a pin-point cross from Sibusiso Hadebe on the left was met by the head of Parker.
Katlego Loke and Peter Ndlovu were then introduced with the former almost making an immediate impact as he saw his shot from inside the box blocked by Musa Bilankulu, with Musa Nyatama and James Madidilani both blasting over as Thanda threatened an equaliser.
And it arrived in the 68th minute when the Thanda skipper found himself unmarked in the area and buried a low shot beyond Da Rocha.
Arrows substitute Thabiso Senamela had two good chances in succession – a 25-yard free-kick and a close-range header – but both times failed to really test Mathibe.
Thanda almost stole all the points at the death, but Madidilani’s 12-yard shot was saved by Da Rocha as both sides had to settle for a point.