Golden Arrows right-back Keenan Phillips experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in his team’s 1-1 home draw with South African Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.
Phillips gave Arrows the lead in the 31st minute with a far-post header that bounced off the ground before slipping past the veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
However, the joy of his opening goal was short-lived, as Phillips then handled a cross just before halftime, allowing Brazilian striker Lucas Ribeiro to convert a penalty and equalise for Sundowns.
Ribeiro, who cheekily chipped the ball over the head of Arrows’ goalkeeper Ismail Katenga, notched his 13th league goal of the season.
This draw was a rare occurrence for defending champions Sundowns, who had previously won 18 and lost just two matches this season, leaving them still 16 points clear at the top of the table.
The match also marked the return of Manqoba Mngqithi to the Golden Arrows as head coach for the third time after he departed from Sundowns in December.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates kept up the pressure on Sundowns with a 1-0 victory over Chippa United in Gqeberha, courtesy of a first-half goal from centre-back Nkosinathi Sibisi, who scored from a header off a corner in first-half added time.
The win was vital for the Pirates, who had struggled with form recently, including a heavy 4-1 loss to Sundowns.
Pirates, who have four games in hand over Sundowns, now look ahead to a crucial match on March 16, when they face Sundowns in a game that could reignite the title race.
At the bottom of the table, Richards Bay extended their unbeaten league run to six matches after a dramatic 2-1 win over fourth-placed Sekhukhune United.
