Atilisang Batsi scored late in the match to help Orbit College salvage a point at Polokwane City in a 2-2 Betway Premiership stalemate at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday evening. Thatoelo Tshikweta had scored a first-half brace that had appeared to have put the hosts in the driving seat against the rookies. It looked as though the home side were in for a true “Rise and Shine” story, appearing good for their maiden win of the new year, Phuti Mohafe’s team having been beaten 1-0 by Durban City last Sunday.
A second home defeat in a row would not have gone down well with a team that has been fast establishing themselves as top-eight regulars. They began Saturday’s match on the front foot, dictating the pace of the game and taking it to their visitors. They duly got their rewards shortly before the half-hour mark when Tshikweta finished off an assist from Bonginkosi Dlamini.
Halftime was looming and Orbit were no doubt thinking of how they’d get themselves back into the game via a pep talk from the coach when Tshikweta punished their lack of concentration with his second of the evening. It could have been “all she wrote”, but the rookies would have none of that. They returned from the break guns blazing, putting the hosts under the cosh from the get-go.
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Six minutes in, they reduced the deficit, with Bradley Ralani converting a penalty to return the match to contest status. Typically, City looked to protect their lead while Orbit sought to get even as the match see-sawed from one end to the other. Just as they were punished late in the first half, Orbit gave City a taste of their own medicine by scoring the equaliser with just three minutes of normal play remaining. Orbit will welcome the point in spite of the fact they remain in the play-off 15th place after 17 matches, while City are in eighth having played a match less.
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