In their rehearsal match that was played at the Gwamasenga grounds on Sunday, Tshifulanani Crystal Palace rose to the occasion and held Gwamasenga United Brothers to a 1-1 draw.

As though there was something at stake, the teams displayed entertaining football from the onset.

United Brothers could have scored at least three goals in the first half, but their strikers showed no appetite for goals as they approached the opponents’ danger area. Their allrounder, Rofhiwa Matshinyatsimbi, let the fans down when he shot wide from close range in the eighth minute. As if that was not enough to irritate the team’s enthusiastic fans, Matimba Vukeya committed a similar blunder four minutes later.

Brothers were the first to find the net. Khathutshelo Nemusumani received a neat pass from Rudzani Mugudamani and ran straight to the keeper, with the defenders accompanying him as if he were their teammate. Nemusumani unleashed a ground cutter to beat the Palace keeper, Mulalo Nevombe.

Brothers nearly increased the margin 10 minutes before the break. Matimba Vukeya scored with a half-volley, but the goal was disallowed because Vukeya had obstructed the keeper on his way to score.

Both sides effected some changes to their starting lineups in the second half. United Brothers’ centre forward, Khathutshelo Nemusumani, miskicked the ball inside the box and he was replaced with Tshilidzi Ramatsitsi for that. Crystal Palace found the equaliser via Fhatuwani Mukwevho late in the game. He finished off a rebound.