Tshepo Mokhabi of Free State challenged by Christof Mtshweni of Mpumalanga during the 2015 SAB U21 Championships at the Giant Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa on June 29, 2015 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
by
Staff Reporter
Monday Jun 29, 2015. 20:24
Free State came from two goals down to beat Gauteng 3-2 in the SAB Under-21 Championship at Giant Stadium in Shoshanguve on Monday.
The defending champions found themselves 2-0 down within the 15 minutes - Madala Malamule and captain Melchisedec Tshwale finding the back of the net for the hosts.
Man of the Match Thabo Maphakisa pulled a goal back for Free State just after the half-hour mark before substitute Tankiso Plaatjies leveled matters in first-half stoppage time.
Maphakisa completed the comeback and his brace in the 62nd minute, pouncing on a defensive mistake.
The Free State attacker went close to completing his hat-trick in the final minute, breaking free on goal before seeing his shot just wide of the left-hand upright.
The win was Free State's second of the day, after they beat Mpumalanga in the opening game of the day.
Gauteng find themselves bottom of Group A following successive defeats.