TEMBISA – Super-sub Sipho Jembula produced a last-minute cracker of a goal outside the box to beat Tapuwa Kapini as Highlands Park and Polokwane City shared the spoils at Makhulong Stadium on Sunday.
For a long while, it looked like Gordon Igesund’s charges were going to walk away with all three points, given the amount of tactical discipline they had applied at the back.
But it was not to be as a late lapse of concentration robbed the ‘Lions of the North’ of the opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone to 12th position.
For most of the first period, Igesund’s side opted to play deep on defence. They never even rushed to push forward in an attempt to hold their opponents on a high press. They waited for them, Polokwane took the bait and that left them very vulnerable at the back.
Highlands pounced on that weakness, but could only score a single goal out of several chances they were presented with, as Peter Shalulile found the back of the net.
The right winger received a superb cross from Siyabonga Nhlapo on the near side. The gods of football would have cursed his feet for eternity had he missed the chance. He was left with a ’keeper to beat.
Polokwane responded with their own attacking moves, but they struggled in the final third. They couldn’t interchange passes well enough to break their opponents down at the back. The hosts cleared off almost every attacking move they orchestrated.
In the 29th minute, though, Rise and Shine were presented with a clear chance to make matters even.
Rodney Ramagalela unleashed a shot outside the box to test the opposition goalkeeper between the sticks. The veteran striker, however, was denied by the crossbar.
In the second period, Igesund made two substitutions, with Seun Ledwaba coming in for Edwin Sitayitayi, while Surprise Moriri made way for Kgomotso Koena in the heart of midfield.
But that didn’t change their play much. Highlands Park just continued from where they left off in the first stanza, playing deep.
Polokwane adopted the same strategy as Highlands in the second half. They added numbers in their line of defence, while also hoping to catch their opponents on the break.
But their transitions weren’t smooth enough. They lack agility and verve in their final third to break Highlands down.
In the 69th minute, Segolela unleashed a cracker of a shot, but his effort went over the bar.
Jabu Maluleke could have made it 1-1 after the visitors were awarded a set-piece outside the box. However, his effort went wide as well.