Mamelodi Sundowns’s Diski Team walked away with a point on Saturday morning when they drew 1-1 against the Polokwane Reserves at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Five minutes into the match and the first effort was witnessed, with captain, Kabelo Sibande firing a shot from the right flank to find the farpost. His effort was, however, cleared on the goal line to deny him an opener.
Simphiwe Mlondo also attempted to put his name as the first on the scoresheet but he was disposessed inside the box, denying him a finishing effort.
On the 27th minute, the visitors broke the deadlock. From range, they fired a shot but Lwandiso Radebe smacked the ball away. The visitors found the rebound and slotted it past him to take the lead.
Two minutes later, the hosts were awarded a corner kick which was met by Zazi Qotoyi’s head as he attempted to find the target. The defender was unlucky as it went wide.
Rise and Shine almost doubled matters again when they drove the ball to the box. But Sibande managed to clear the ball away after a scramble in there.
A foul just outside the box saw the referee awarding a free-kick to the hosts. Taken by Bennet Mokoena, the shot was tapped off target by the keeper. The hosts tried to level matters before the break but couldn’t get it right, as they headed to the break trailing by a goal.
The hosts kicked off the second half with a close scoring attempt when a defence-splitting pass was made to find Kutlwano Letlhaku. His effort went wide.
A minute later, Gomolemo Kekana supplied another defence-splitting pass to Sibande who was left unmarked as he made his run to the box. The goalkeeper came off his line and successfully blocked the ball to deny Downs the equaliser.
Just after the hour mark, Polokwane City tested Radebe with a powerful strike from the left flank but he smacked it away.
Madandawana searched deep to find a goal but when Sibande struck a shot towards goal, the visitors attempted to clear but it headed towards goal and hit the woodwork. The ball bounced outside the goal line and Tswelelo Maake found the rebound to finally level matters.
Radebe was tested again just before the cooling break in front of goal. His heroics saw him spread himself to block a dangerous effort.
Bafana Ba Style looked much better and were creating convincing chances to snatch the lead. The City goalkeeper denied them twice of big chances when he put his body on the line.
The hosts fought hard to take lead in the closing stages of the match but it wasn’t meant to be, seeing them recording their first draw of the season.
How we lined up: Radebe, Sibande (c), Qotoyi, Dube, Maake, Kekana, Maku, Mareletse, Mlondo, Mokoena, Letlhaku.
Subs: Menemene, Modikwe, Nxumalo, Mahlangu, Gaseitsiwe.
