WINDHOEK – MTC Premiership log leaders Tigers surrendered a 2-goal cushion to share the spoils with the visiting United Stars in a four-goal thriller at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium on Saturday.
The Donkerhoek-based outfit missed an ideal opportunity to extend their slender lead at the summit to 27 points, four ahead of closest title challengers African Stars and five above reigning champions Black Africa, who are perched adrift in 3rd place.
Dawid Snewe’s charges can feel a bit undone after referee Helmuth Andreas harshly adjudged Tigers goalkeeper Fox Nambundunga to have upended a marauding United striker, who was clear on goal just outside the penalty area.
Andreas awarded a direct free kick but incorrectly gave Nambundunga a gentle wrap on the knuckles instead of a straight red card as the shot-stopper illegally prevented the striker a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Following a see-saw affair in the opening half, the match finally got into the next gear when enterprising defender Treasurer Kauapirura rattled the roof of the net with a neat strike to give the hosts the lead after the ball-watching Stars defence failed to clear their lines from a corner kick (1-0).
The tie was virtually over when substitute Petrus Naftalie stretched Tigers’ lead with a fine strike to all but put the result to bed, or so it appeared.
Fullback Miquel Manaza netted what looked like a consolation goal for United but the visitors had other ideas as they laid siege to their much-fancied opponents’ goalmouth with time ticking by.
United’s perseverance finally paid off as Alfeus Ngwezi silenced the small army of vociferous Ingweinyama supporters with a cool finish in the dying minutes of the match to give the visitors a well-deserved share of the spoils (2-2).
In the opening fixture of round 12 in the MTC Premiership, an own goal by PC Blue Boys handed Tura Magic a lucky 1-0 win over the seasiders.
However, the match will go down in the history books as a unique showpiece of a comedy of errors after NFA FIFA accredited referee Dangi Shinana mysteriously allowed the coastal outfit to make use of four substitutes – much to the chagrin of those in attendance.
Ramblers continued their good vein of form after the Christmas break. The resurgent Tunschell Street Boys easily waltzed past LHU Blue Waters (2-0) via a well-taken brace by Lucky Kooper to record their third consecutive win since parting ways with head coach Jerry Zimmer.
By Carlos Kambaekwa