Late Penalty Seals Draw For Casric Stars Against Cape Town City

Sphamandla Mlilo scored a late penalty, securing a crucial equalizer for Casric Stars against Cape Town City in the PSL relegation and promotion playoff at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Wednesday.

City had believed they had the game wrapped up when Prince Tjueza scored the only goal of the first half, skillfully controlling the ball with his knee before beating Emile Lako with a composed finish.

City were poised to take the top spot in the mini-league with four points after two matches, following their home draw against Orbit College over the weekend. However, Mlilo’s penalty, which Darren Keet couldn’t keep out, dashed those hopes.

Both City and Stars were already under pressure and hoping for a victory coming into this match, after their opening games ended in a goalless draw against Orbit College. 

The first ten minutes of the game was very intense, with both sides pressing for a goal and Prins Tjueza wasting a chance in the 13th minute after a counterattack in which he fired the ball away from the goalpost. 

Thabo Nodada who played brilliantly and causing difficulties for the opposition in the middle, ended up getting fouled near the box, resulting in a free kick that Emile Lako easily saved in the 20th minute of the game. 

The Cape Town-based side scored in the 26th minute of the game, due to a foul on Jaiden Rhodes, which resulted in a free kick that found Tjiueza in the final third and he hit it left top of the goalpost to find the net. This marks the first goal scored since the beginning of the playoffs. 

While the home side did not lose hope after conceding a goal, they continued pressing hard and were awarded a free kick after Thabo Nodada was called for a handball as Thabang Rakwena attempted to kick the ball towards the goalpost, but the free kick ended up getting blocked by City wall. 

City continued to lead with their single goal, but due to Stars’ constant pressing, they almost conceded when Decide Chauke attempted to score but ended up kicking the ball slightly above the post, forcing Keet to make a stunning dive, attempting to save it in the 39th minute of the game. 

City led the first half and continued to search for a second goal when Nodada struck it close to the goalpost in the 51st minute. 

The Citizens started to play deep, giving Lebogang Lesako a chance to shoot from a distance, but Keet watched as the ball went out since he kicked it above the goalpost. 

The visitors missed a chance of scoring a second goal when a free kick kicked went to Fasika Idumba and he kicked right to assist and Lorenzo Gordinho and Tjueza tried to touch it but were already late.  

In the 68th minute, Chauke attempted a power shot on the bottom left but missed the goalpost. 

In the 75th minute, Stars almost equalised after Chauke, who has given his all in this game, in the final third following an assist, attempted to kick the ball into the net, but Dondolo blocked it, allowing Keet to comfortably hold on to it. 

As Stars flooded the numbers forward, they were rewarded as Mlilo held his emotions to salvage a point for the home side.