Polokwane, Wits share spoils in six-goal thriller

Polokwane City and Bidvest Wits played to a 3-3 draw in a thrilling Absa Premiership encounter at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.

Bongile Booi, Sammy Seabi and Jabulani Maluleke found the back of the net for the hosts who remain in sixth place on the log standings, seven points behind the Clever Boys who continue to top the standings.

Gift Motupa scored a quickfire brace for the visitors who hit the front in the second half through captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, only to lose their lead to a spectacular free-kick by Rise and Shine skipper Maluleke, as the two teams ultimately settled for a point apiece.

The game sparked into life in the 23rd minute as Booi headed home an inch-perfect free-kick from Maluleke.

City doubled their lead five minutes later in a carbon copy of their opening goal. Maluleke provided another perfectly weighted free-kick into the area and Seabi made no mistake, towering above his marker to guide a looping header past an outstretched Darren Keet in the Wits goal.

The Clever Boys halved the deficit through Motupa in the 34th minute. The diminutive attacker's rasping effort leaving George Chigova with little chance.

Motupa was at it again three minutes later, this time nodding home from a corner-kick as the Clever Boys successfully rallied to restore parity before the break.

The visitors completed their comeback on the hour mark as Hlatshwayo powered home to put the log leaders in the driving seat.

But the drama wasn't over quite yet as Maluleke proved once more that class is permanent. The Rise and Shine midfielder - as he did in the reverse fixture - firing an unstoppable free-kick past Keet to level matters once more in the 79th minute.

The game culminated in frantic fashion as both teams pressed forward in search of the winner and Bidvest Wits thought they had found one as Haashim Domingo had the ball in the back of the net in added time, only to see the assistant's flag raised for offside.

Polokwane City (2) 3 (Booi 23' Seabi 28' J.Maluleke 79')

Bidvest Wits (2) 3 (Motupa 34' 37' Hlatshwayo 60')

Polokwane City: Chigova; Hlongwane (Tlolane 76'), Nkili, Mbonani, Kalanke, J.Maluleke, Seabi, Phiri, W.Musona, Booi (Mashumba 64'), Anas (Mpambaniso 90').

Bidvest Wits: Keet; Hlanti, Nonyane, Hlatshwayo, Mere, Hotto (Mhango 90+2'), Monare (Domingo 87'), Alexander, Pelembe, Motupa (Claasen 80'), Majoro.