Santos wasted the chance to move closer to the summit of the Absa Premiership table when they conceded a late goal against Free State Stars in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw.

The match at Stellenbosch's Coetzenburg Stadium was played in near gale-force conditions, and on the balance of play it was Santos who had the better chance and should perhaps have taken all three points.

Stars made a perfect start to the game, perhaps even surprising themselves when they went in front with only a minute on the clock thanks to Tebelo Mofokeng who headed home Ruben Cloete's free kick from out on the left.

Santos however had the wind behind their backs and soon came back into the game, with Romano Scott and Musa Otieno both having efforts from range.

Scott's effort was pushed over the bar by Kennedy Mweene, while Otieno's shot from distance was inches off target.

But in the 23rd minute there was nothing 'Ea Lla Koto' could do to stop the Cape side from scoring as debutant Tony Tsabedze picked up the ball 20-yards out and hammered a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Following the equaliser, the Peoples' Team enjoyed more of the play, capitalising on the strong wind.

But clear-cut chances did not materialise, despite aerial balls being played into the Ea Lla Koto box on a regular basis.

Santos had the first opportunities of the second half, although they had to wait until the 67th minute when Erwin Isaacs squandered an excellent chance, volleying wide from a central position 10-yards out after Phikolethu Spelman had located him in the box.

Tyren Arendse then also scuffed a chance before Boebie Solomons' team was handed a golden opportunity to take the advantage when former Santos wing-back Cloete brought down Isaacs in the box.

Arendse netted from the spot kick: 2-1 to Santos after 71 minutes.

The visiting team however made sure their long trip down to the Cape was not in vain as they levelled the game in the 82nd minute when midfielder Mpho Makola took advantage of some slack defending to hammer home a shot from inside the box.