Mitchell Barry’s penalty in the dying minutes of the game earned Randburg Football Club U17 a much-needed point at home.
In a Gauteng Development League encounter, Barry was instrumental as the host fought from behind to draw 2–2 with School of Excellent.
The youngsters gave it their all on the field in an exciting four-goal thriller. The first half was tough for the home team. The tiki-taka football that the visitors played was too much for them to handle. In the first 15 minutes, School of Excellent’s forward, Hope Mahlangu, took the lead and put the host team on the back foot..
The visitors continued to dominate the half enjoying enjoying enormous ball possession and finding the gaps between Randburg FC defenders.
However, the host created a glorious chance to level the score line, but Patrick Chisunga short inside the box went wide. Shortly, Mahlangu caught the napping Randburg defence line and doubled their lead completing his brace for a day.
Sphamandla Nkosi went close to giving Randburg a goal, but his well-taken freekick hit the bar just before half-time.
Randburg came back a different side in the second half. They took the game to the opponents forced them to defend deep and applied more pressure. The visitors could not play their normal game and they were losing possession.
The hosts created two clear chances early in the half, but could not get that one goal to bring them back in the game.
Randburg captain Onaishe Nyasvimbo led by example and made it 2–1 bringing back the confidence and belief the host needed.
The visitors showed signs of frustration as they were pinned back and were desperate defending. Kyle Troskie was sent to hit the showers early after a dangerous tackle on Chisungu.
A few minutes later, Nyasvimbo played a perfectly sweet ball setting up Keenan Schofield inside the box to make it 2–2.
School of Excellent had a chance to wrap up the game and take all three points, but Randburg’s goalkeeper brilliantly pulled a double to give his side the point they deserved.
Randburg coach Columbis Kesper admitted that they did not have an easy first half and they were on the back foot.
“We made changes in the second half and we knew how good they are at playing and keeping the ball. The changes played a big role in the results.”
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