DESPITE twice going behind, Thanda Royal Zulu FC were desperately unlucky not to get all three points in a 2-2 home draw against Baroka FC on Saturday.
In probably their best display of the season, Amabhubesi launched attack after attack as they dominated midfield and were cool and calm at the back.
On another day they might have banged in five or six, with a number of deflected shots going just wide or slightly over the bar.
Thanda’s energy levels were superb as they fought for – and won – almost every 50-50 ball and quickly closed down spaces when the visitors were in possession.
As fate would have it, on both occasions when they faltered, they were punished.
The first goal conceded came in the 20th minute when, against the run of play, a swift counter down the right saw the ball squared for Chabeli Khotso to calmly slot home past Thanda stopper Zama Dlamini.
But they were back on level terms just five minutes later when Junior Sekete headed a sharp cross into the far corner.
Thanda were increasingly bossing the ball and should have bagged a few more instead of heading into the tunnel at 1-1.
Ten minutes into the second half saw a virtual carbon copy of the first goal as a cross from the right was somehow scrambled in by Baroka number 10 Thabiso Kutumela.
Despite waves of attack, Thanda seemed destined to be pointless until a brilliant last-gasp effort saw a ball fed to Michael Gumede, who waltzed around his marker to rocket the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
With new head coach Thami Ngubane and a number of recent player acquisitions, Thanda look set to start climbing up the NFD ladder.
Well done, boys! This kind of play will see the fans streaming back.
