Masandawana Launch Second Half Comeback To Earn Point At Arrows

Mamelodi Sundowns played a 1-1 draw with Lamontville Golden Arrows in Wednesday night’s encounter in the DStv Premiership. Sipho Mbule equalised for The Brazilians after Arrows took the lead through Bryce Moon at Princess Magogo Stadium.

Masandawana made seven changes made to their previous lineup that played on the weekend and picked up a point in Durban to move to 62 points in 26 League matches. The first chance fell to the home side, Abdelmounain Boutouil disposessed Knox Mthizwa with a slide tackle as the attacker was charging towards the box area and regained possession for Sundowns.

Abafan Bes’thende got another a golden opportunity after 10 minutes of play, but Boutouil sweeped the ball away from the goal line after the Mutizwa put his shot past Williams.

A cross from the right fell to Rico Henry who had got forward well. With the goal at his mercy though, he made poor contact inside the six-yard box and the ball bobbled well wide. Marcelo Allende and Haashim Domingo looked dangerous with their attack, the two of them combined to break the deadlock with Domingo who made a run past the defenders and took a shot from the right but the Arrows goalie Sifiso Mlungwana pushed it out for a corner.

Downs were forced to make an early substitution, Sipho Mbule replaced Bongani Zungu who was unfortunate to pick up an injury to the face after an aerial battle from a corner kick. The home team shortly took the lead after the changes when Bryce Moon struck past Williams.

Just after the half hour mark, Mbule did well to turn the defenders in the midfield when he linked up with Allende who made the final pass forward to Cassius Mailula. The young striker was heavely marked in the box but squeezed in a shot towards goal and forced the goalkeeper to get down low to collect. Arrows were remained compact and solid in defence, while Masandawana continued with threats in attack.

Sphelele Mkhulise picked up Abubeker Nasir on the flank, the Ethiopian looked to connect with Mailula but the ball came in too fast for the striker to put a good shot on target. At the brink of half time, Nasir’s opportunity to equalise went wide with his coming close to goal and the home team walked into the tunnel leading by a goal.

Masandawana came out with renewed energy after the break, Mbule and Nasir both had shots saved by Mlungwana. The midfielder was the first to test the keeper early on with a long range strike followed by Nasir’s one-on-one chance denied from range. Downs looked to their bench for changes, Nasir and Grant Kekana made switched places with Gaston Sirino and Lebohang Maboe, who had been out for most parts of the season nursing his injury. Domingo and Sifiso Ngobeni also made their way off the field of Siyabonga Mabena and Terrence Mashego in the last 15 minutes of the encounter.

Downs pressed on more brightly, moving the ball quickly and with purpose and sliced through Arrows as Mbule got Bafana Ba Style back on level terms with a header from the corner kick.The defending Champions continued to mount pressure on Arrows in search of a second goal, Mabena looked to make a vital breakthrough but was unlucky to see his shot blocked in the box and another opportunity hitting the crossbar minutes later.

As the full time approached our best move of the game to that point was when Mkhulise and Mabena fired vital saves from Mlungwana. The Brazilians will get in action in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals on Saturday night when they face Stellenbosch away in Cape Town, kick off is at 18h00.

This is how we lined up:

Williams (c), Kekana (62′ Maboe), Ngobeni (76′ Mashego), Boutouil, De Reuck, Zungu, Allende, Mkhulise, Domingo (76′ Mabena), Mailula, Nasir (62′ Sirino).

Subs:

1. Onyango, B. Onyango, Mashego, Mbule, Nkosi, Mabena, Sirino, Shalulile, Maboe.