Rise and Shine play to third successive draw

Sat, 18 Feb 2017 | 14:58

Polokwane City played to a third successive 1-1 Absa Premiership draw this year, as they were held to a stalemate by a struggling Ajax Cape Town side at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.

Grant Margeman opened the scoring on the day with Rodney Ramagalela finding the back of the net for the hosts. Both sides squandered several chances to win the match in the second stanza.

Urban Warriors teenager, Margeman, who teamed up with his teammates following duty with the South Africa Under-20 national team, handed the visitors the lead in the 15th minute.

The 18-year-old with a superb finish following good work down the right flank by Rheece Evans.

Rodrick Kabwe came within inches of doubling the Urban Warriors lead 10 minutes later, but he could only succeed in guiding his header attempt wide of goal.

Thabo Mosadi then missed a golden chance to put Ajax 2-0 up in the 38th minute, with the winger duly made to pay for his miscued header attempt as Rise and Shine pulled level a minute later.

Ramagalela continuing his impressive goal-scoring form for the Limpopo side; hammering home from within the penalty box to make it 1-1 at the break.

Following a slow start to the second stanza the game burst into life just past the hour mark as Mosadi directed his volley attempt narrowly wide of George Chigova’s goal.

Jody February was then called into action to deny Ramagalela on two occasions before Ajax again kicked into gear late on.

The hosts weathering a late storm from the Cape side with Aubrey Funga coming close to grabbing all three points for Stanley Menzo’s men.

Funga, though, failed to mark his debut with a goal with the Zambian midfielder seeing his attempt straight at Chigova as the two teams settled for a point. Both teams subsequently remain without a win this year.

Polokwane City (1) 1 (Ramagalela 39′)

Ajax Cape Town (1) 1 (Margeman 15′)

Polokwane City: Chigova; Klaas, Tema, Mbonani, Semenya -Musona (Segolela 46′), Manaka (Kanyenda 83′), Phiri, Maluleke – Jembula (Tlolane 70′), Ramagalela

Ajax Cape Town: February; Lebusa, Pietersen, Coetzee, Evans – Margeman (Isaacs 80′), Graham – Mosadi, Kabwe (Doutie 90+2′), Mzwakali (Funga 70′) – Paulse