Sekola scores late for Stars win

Free State Stars stole victory in the dying seconds of their Absa Premiership match against Polokwane City in Rustenburg on Saturday when a penalty goal from Moeketsi Sekola handed them a 3-2 win.

Polokwane had the first shot on goal in the seventh minute when Rendani Ndou let fly from distance, but his effort sailed narrowly wide of the target.

The home side continued to press forward and opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Ndou turned home a through ball from Puleng Tlolane.

Stars were virtually non-existent in the opening half hour, but managed to draw level in the 33rd minute when a long throw-in into the Polokwane box resulted in Camaldine Abraw heading home from ten yards.

The half ended all-square.

Polokwane came out firing in the second half and came close to taking the lead for the second time when Tlolane hit the crossbar with a stinging shot in the 63rd minute.

The away side took the lead against the run of play in the 74th minute thanks to a second goal from Abraw.

Polokwane, though, hit back almost immediately with Vusi Mthimkhulu equalising seconds after going behind.

The game was very open in the final 15 minutes, but both sides squandered chances in front of goal with some poor finishing and bad decision making.

Just as the game looked to be heading for a draw, Daniel Cardoso was brought down inside the Polokwane box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot in the 89th minute.

Sekola made no mistake from the penalty spot to give Stars the spoils.

Polokwane City (1) 2 (Ndou 18’, Mthimkhulu 75’)

Free State Stars (1) 3 (Abraw 33’+74’, Sekola 90’ pen)

Polokwane City: Marumo, Dhadhla (Kanyenda 77’), Tema, Nene, Lichaba, Alexander, Maluleke, Langa, Jembula (Monama 67’), Tlolane, Ndou.

Free State Stars: Diakite, Masehe, Cardoso, Sankara, Kerspuy, Shabalala, Somaeb (Mdluli 66’), Mashego, Venter [Basie 35’( Angula90’)], Sekola, Abraw.