Cape Town City squandered the lead for the fourth time this year after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Golden Arrows at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday, April 28.
Eric Tinkler’s side had also scored first against Chippa United, SuperSport United and Polokwane City, although they only came away with a point on each occasion and the scenario repeated itself against Abafana Bes’thende.
The Citizens went above Matsatsantsa on goal difference in sixth place, with Arrows dropping down to 10th in the DStv Premiership standings after slipping one point behind Kaizer Chiefs (8th) in the race for a top-eight finish.
City had drawn three of their last four games, but were still without a win in 2024, while Arrows went in search of their first victory in four matches to keep their top-eight hopes alive.
Both teams created plenty of chances in an entertaining first half as Thabiso Kutumela lashed a shot over the crossbar on nine minutes before Gladwin Shitolo nodded the ball wide of the home goal from Siyanda Mthanti cross in the 14th minute.
Kutumela then steered a header straight at Isima Watenga from a corner on 22 minutes and Kagiso Malinga should have done better when he missed the target 11 minutes later after failing to make clean contact with the ball.
The hosts would draw first blood, however, as Darwin Gonzalez ghosted in at the back post to meet Luphumlo Sifumba’s fine cross and plant a header past Watenga to score only his second goal of the season.
Trailing at the break, Steve Komphela’s side quickly hit back at the start of the second half through Nduduzo Sibiya, who was left with a simple tap-in after being picked out by Malinga.
The Citizens looked more threatening as the half wore on and Kutumela was just inches away from restoring their lead on 66 minutes after getting on the end of Khanyisa Mayo’s square pass.
Gonzalez was presented with another opportunity following a swift attacking move in the 72nd minute, but he could only hit the side-netting from an angle on the left.
Neither team was able to find the winner in the closing stages though, as each of them had to settle for a second consecutive stalemate.
