By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
TS Galaxy fought back twice to secure a 2-2 draw against Siwelele FC in their Betway Premiership opener at Toyota stadium in Bloemfotein on Sunday evening.
The home team broke the deadlock when Siphesihle Jeza capitalised on a costly error from Sipho Maseti, who failed to deal with the ball on his goal line, to hand the Bloemfontein outfit the lead.
Siwelele headed into the break with a deserved advantage after dominating the opening 45 minutes.
The Rockets had the chance to level matters early in the second half after a handball by Shadrack Kobedi resulted in a penalty. Victor Letsoalo stepped up and coolly slotted home from the spot in the 51st minute to make it 1-1.
Vincent Pule fired the hosts back in front just four minutes after the equaliser. Veluyeke Zulu pulled one back for Bernard Parker’s troops in the 71st minute.
There was late drama in the dying minutes as Maseti was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area.
Neither side could find a late winner, with both teams settling for a point each.
Meanwhile Siwelele FC has acquired shares in the Toyota Cheetahs in a move aimed at strengthening sport in the Free State.
The agreement carries a broader ambition of taking elite rugby beyond Bloemfontein, with both organisations exploring the possibility of staging Cheetahs matches in Bethlehem and at Dr Molemela Stadium to reconnect with supporters across the province.
Elsewhere Polokwane City claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Richards Bay at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) on Sunday afternoon.