Black Aces put up a fight to draw at home

Mpumalanga Black Aces had to put up a fight to come back from 2-0 down to secure a point from their Premier League encounter with Free State Stars at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

Tendai Ndoro found the back of the net twice for the hosts to secure the draw after they fell behind in the first half. If Aces had expected to walk over Stars, who have been struggling this season, they would have been surprised when the visitors took control of the game at the outset.
Free State striker Camaldine Abraw was first on the scoreboard with a header which deflected off the cross bar before crossing the goal line in the ninth minute.

A free kick to Aces just outside the area went wide and Stars immediately counter-attacked. Their opponents’ weak defence allowed them to take pot shots at Aces goal keeper Energy Murambandoro with the ball still going high.

The eventual man of the match, Danny Venter found the net in the 35th minute when Stars created some space and a perfect pass from Zamuxolo Ngala found Venter’s left foot for him to put the ball in the far corner.

Yet after pulling ahead by two goals Stars failed to protect their goal. Aces, a threatening team up front, reacted positively with the ensuing attack allowing Ndoro to put the ball past keeper Glen Verbauwhede a mere two minutes later.

Stars’ defenders miscommunicated resulting in them crowding the goal and each other while leaving their opponents unmarked. It was also a failed clearance by Verbauwhede from a contestable penalty kick which got Ndoro his second goal in the second half. It was awarded after Stars’ Robert Sankara was penalised by referee Lwandile Mfiki for handling the ball inside the penalty area. Ndoro’s first attempt was saved but the keeper failed to hold on to the ball and he found the net in the 61st minute. It was the turning point of the game and neither team would score again.

But attack upon attack continued throughout the match, with Stars taking a total 17 shots at goal, with only 41 per cent of the ball possession. Their final best shot at goal came in the 71st minute when the recently subbed-on Richard Heyekane missed from a corner.

Given the waves of attack there should have been more goals scored. Venter admitted that they couldn’t capitalise on their chances. Their mistakes left coach Kimah Phiri frustrated. “But a point is still okay,” he said afterwards.

Aces coach Clive Barker was also sorry not to win at home and credited the opposition.

“There were great chances on both sides but they fought all the way.” Black Aces are now sixth on the log with two matches left before the end of the year.