Mofokeng impresses as Royale Union SG score late to deny La Liga side in Europa League

Relebohile Mofokeng featured for 90 minutes as Royale Union Saint-Gilloise played out a 1-1 draw with La Liga side Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday.

Mofokeng missed a couple of good chances in both the first and second halves before Royale Union SG scored late to rescue a point from the jaws of defeat.

A defensive blunder had allowed Sociedad to go ahead after 46 minutes and the Spanish side thought they were headed for their first Europa League win of the season until the 88^th minute when the home side drew level.

Mofokeng had Royale Union’s first opportunity early in the first half but could not find the target from close range with not much from either side in the opening stanza.

Mofokeng misses opportunities

However, after the break, Sociedad capitalised on a mistake in the home side’s defence. Goalkeeper Herve Koffi had played out from the back, passing to Kamiel Van De Perre but the Belgian midfielder made a mess of the ball before Benat Turrientes, who had just come on at halftime, pounced and slotted the ball home.

Two minutes later, Mofokeng should have equalised after a neat exchange of passes in the box but his effort lacked the power as the Sociedad goalkeeper easily gathered.

Sociedad had a good opportunity on the hour mark when Kenyan winger Job Ochieng did well to beat his marker and laid it on the plate but the opportunity was blazed over the bar.

Six minutes later, Mofokeng had another opportunity to score the equaliser when the goalkeeper came out of his line and missed the ball but the former Orlando Pirates forward opted to move out wide in search of space and before he could pull the trigger, Sociedad had covered.

Union SG score late and protect their point

The Bafana Bafana star then stung the goalkeeper’s palms with a ferocious shot from outside the box soon after with the visitors forcing the home side to attempt from distance.

With chances few and far between, it was a set-piece that earned Royale Union the draw. Besfort Zeneli delivered a pin-point ball at the near post from a freekick and substitute Sekou Keita was just there to poke it home for 1-1 in the 88^th minute.

In stoppage time, Union needed a goal-line clearance from Massire Sylla to protect their lead as they remain unbeaten in the competition, having opened their Europa League campaign with a 3-0 win away to Viktoria Plzen in September.