A dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from Ashley Cupido salvaged a crucial point for Stellenbosch FC in a 1-1 draw against Polokwane City at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday night.
The result, which opened Matchday 20 of the South African Premiership, saw both teams miss an opportunity to climb higher in the league standings.
Polokwane takes the lead after goalless first half
The first 45 minutes saw Stellenbosch dominate possession, controlling nearly 70% of the ball, but they struggled to break down a well-organised Polokwane City defence.
The visitors remained patient and absorbed the pressure, looking to exploit counter-attacks when possible.
Polokwane’s persistence paid off early in the second half when Bonginkosi Dlamini capitalised on a well-placed cross from Mokibelo Ramabu in the 51st minute.
His precise finish past goalkeeper Sage Stephens gave the visitors a vital lead, putting them in a strong position to secure all three points.
Stellenbosch struggles to break through
Despite trailing, Stellenbosch found it difficult to break through Polokwane City’s disciplined defensive setup.
The hosts controlled possession but lacked creativity in the final third.
Several half-chances went begging, and frustration grew as the clock ticked down.
Coach Steve Barker made several substitutions to inject fresh energy into his attack, bringing on Ashley Cupido in a bid to turn the game around.
The decision proved to be a masterstroke, as the forward made an immediate impact.
Cupido’s late heroics earn a point
Just as it seemed Polokwane City would walk away with all three points, Stellenbosch found their breakthrough in stoppage time.
In the first minute of added time, Cupido latched onto a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired home his third goal in four matches, sending the home crowd into celebration.
The goal ensured Stellenbosch avoided a disappointing home defeat and continued their push towards the upper half of the table.
Missed opportunity for both teams
With this result, Polokwane City remains in fourth place with 31 points, while Stellenbosch sits just behind in fifth with 28 points.
However, both teams will view this as a missed opportunity—Polokwane could have overtaken Sekhukhune United for third place, while Stellenbosch had a chance to move into the top four.
Stellenbosch will now turn their focus to their next fixture, hoping to convert possession dominance into victories, while Polokwane City will look to bounce back and solidify their position in the league standings.
