DURBAN, February 15 (Absa Premier League) – Substitute Francis Kombe’s deflected shot nine minutes from full-time denied Thanda Royal Zulu all three points as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Golden Arrows in Hammarsdale on Sunday.
Nkosinathi Nhleko had given the home side the lead at the Mpumalanga Stadium, but Richard Henyekane’s penalty shortly after drew his side level.
However, a cracking 30-yard strike from Phil Evans looked to have earned Roger Palmgren’s team an unlikely win, before the late equaliser from Kombe denied the Amabhubesi all three points.
It was another pulsating Absa Premier League performance from Thanda after their performance seven days ago when they beat league leaders Supersport United.
July Mahlangu was heavily involved during the early stages and came closest to scoring when he blazed a 20-yard shot narrowly over, before delivering the killer pass for the first goal.
It came in the eighth minute when a poorly taken free-kick by Joseph Musonda went straight to the midfielder and his finely threaded through-ball from inside the Thanda half picked out Nhleko, who finished powerfully from the right side of the penalty area.
The visitors were given the opportunity to hit straight back though when Ahmed Muhammed dived in on Henyekane five minutes later and the striker drew his side level with a low finish beyond Brenden Wardle.
Mahlangu had another chance moments later but again put his shot over as Thanda failed to make use of their early dominance.
In the 25th minute Wardle’s long goal-kick picked out Nhlanhla Zothwane in the box, but his header was straight at goalkeeper as the visitors slowly began to pick up.
Just on the half hour mark, Thokozani Mshengu was put clean through on the right after a sweeping move involving Kagisho Dikgacoi and Henyekane, but the midfielder swept his shot wide.
Henyekane, Mshengu and Zothwane again came close minutes later, but poor finishing helped keep the scores level at half-time.
Mzuvukile Tom missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead immediately after the restart, when he pulled his 14-yard shot agonisingly wide after Dikgacoi’s hopeful long ball was poorly dealt with by the home defence.
It proved a costly miss as the hosts retook the lead with their next opportunity in the 62nd minute when the visiting defence failed to clear their lines after Joseph Kibe’s dangerous cross.
When the ball was eventually cleared, it came to Evans 30-yards out and he rifled in a low shot that curled into the bottom right corner with Wardle well beaten.
Five minutes later Mahlangu should have made the game safe after a neat one-two with Nhleko, but he somehow skied his shot well over from five-yards out.
Felix Obada was the next man guilty of missing after the Arrows goalkeeper punched a dangerous looking cross into his path on the edge of the area, but the Nigerian curled the ball narrowly wide.
Substitute Kombe caused plenty of nuisance to the Thanda defence when he was introduced, first firing wide when he should have done better from point-blank range, before bringing his side back on level terms with nine minute remaining. 
After a neat exchange of passes with Dikgacoi 25-yards out, the Zambian hit a dipping shot that took a slight deflection off Evans and flew past a furious Tsengwa in the Thanda goal.
There was no shortage of drama in the closing stages when Arrows were denied a goal after Shange’s miss-hit shot was nodded in by Dikgacoi, only to be ruled out for offside as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils.