Struggling Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns shared the spoils in a thrilling Absa Premiership outing at Bethlehem's Goble Park on Saturday afternoon.
They drew 2-all while three goals were scored in the second half after both teams made substitutions.
Ea Lla Koto's goals came from Aleni Lebyane and Siyabonga Nkosi while Katlego Mphela and Siyanda Xulu scored for the Brazilians.
The visitors showed their intentions raiding Stars goals from the start with Mphela leading the attack. The league's leading goal-scorer came close to giving his side the lead in the second minute but wasted the chance when opting to dribble past the defenders instead of firing towards the goals with Kennedy Mweene badly positioned. This after being set-up by Lebohang Mokoena, who received a neat pass from Mabhuti Kanyeza.
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Stars shifted into up a gear and began to make their presence felt. After a brilliant set-piece a few metres outside of the box, Ghanaian Jonathan Mensah was unlucky not give Ea Lla Koto the lead in the eighth minute when his header went wide by inches with Brian Baloyi in no position to save the ball.
Stars' stocky striker Lebyane duly gave his team the lead in the 15th minute, beating Baloyi after receiving a clinical cross from Kleinbooi Taaibos. The scorer tapped in with ease sending the home supporters into raptures.
The visitors raised their game, attacking from all angles but Mweene made a brilliant double save at close-range, denying Mphela and Matthew Pattison on the follow-up in the 22nd minute.
Stars' promising midfielder Manti Moholo's attempt just before half-time but his thunder-bolt effort was parried by Baloyi at close-range.
The Brazilians showed their mettle in the second stanza when they levelled matters in the 57th minute via Mphela, who headed home after connecting a brilliant cross from substituted Koketso Mmotong.
Inspired by the goal, they doubled their score when Xulu connected with another neat cross delivered by Mmotong, giving his team the lead.
However, Ea Lla Koto would not succumb and were duly rewarded in the 79th minutes when Nkosi headed home the equaliser from a neat set-piece taken by Siyabonga Mdluli.
A minute before the final whistle Sifiso Thomo wasted a golden opportunity to kill the game, failing to connect a cross with Baloyi in no man's land. Mphela also had a final chance but fired straight into the hands of Mweene, who had no difficulty stopping the danger. - Sapa
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