Crystal Palace and Academy in a thrilling draw

In their rehearsal match at the Makwarela Stadium on Saturday, Tshifulanani Crystal Palace drew 2-2 with Makwarela Development Stars.

Palace demonstrated their hunger for goals from the first whistle. It took them seven minutes to find the net.

Their all-rounder, Mulalo Thiba, received a neat pass from Lindelani “Kubaji” Netshifhefhe and unleashed a volley from the 35-meter area. The ball hit the crossbar and went across the goal line. The keeper of Academy, Luambo Mudau, watched helplessly as the ball hit the back of the net.

That was a wake-up call to the home side. They regrouped from behind and started to play like a united team. The defence of Palace denied them two sure goals moments later. Firstly, Banda Ramaligela’s ground cutter was cleared from the goal line in the 24th minute. Eric Demana had his own chance a little later, but he committed a blunder by holding on to the ball for too long within the Palace danger zone, until he lost possession.

Crystal Palace were still leading 1-0 at the end of the first half.

Development Stars fought back in the 54th minute. Their equalizer was scored by Banda Ramaligela. He went loose from the left corner and beat two defenders in succession, before showing the keeper the wrong way.

Mulalo Thiba scored Palace’s second goal with a long-range volley. The home side scored the equaliser nine minutes before the final whistle. Banda Ramaligela tapped in the ball after a scramble within the box.

Sport - Date: 07 September 2012

Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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