Masandawana Lift DStv Premiership Trophy After Maritzburg Draw

Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United played to a 1-1 draw when they went head to head in a thrilling encounter in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday night.

Masandawana made a complete change of lineup from their previous game in Morocco, retaining only one player, Neo Maema. The KwaZulu-Natal visitors displayed a high counter press strategy early in the first half, while Sundowns focused on dominating possession. 

The game continued with high energy from both teams, and it was in the 15th minute when Maritzburg’s Amadou Soukouna threatened Denis Onyango’s with a goal-scoring opportunity, but an incredible save was made by the Sundowns’ goalkeeper. The Team of Choice continued to push forward, with Soukouna finding himself in another face-to-face situation with Onyango after he managed to break away from the defenders, only for Mosa Lebusa to block the goal with a well-timed intervention.

In the 23rd minute, Maritzburg United was dispossessed of the ball in the middle of the park, allowing Surprise Ralani and Neo Maema of Sundowns to team up and launch a dangerous attack. Ralani skillfully placed the ball over Renaldo Leaner, the Maritzburg goalkeeper, and opened the scoring for the Brazilians in front of the home crowd. The defending champions went into the halftime break leading by a solitary goal and firmly in control of the game through their dominant ball possession.

The second half saw Maritzburg United stepping up their game, Ishmael Njoti delivered a threatening corner for his team early on, but their header failed to get past Onyango’s line. Sundowns, on the other hand, continued to create opportunities. In the 56th minute, Gaston Sirino made a lightning run down the right side of the field, but his shot was blocked by the Maritzburg keeper.

Downs looked to their bench to make their first changes just before the hour mark, bringing out Siyabonga Mabena and Marcelo Allende for Cassius Mailula and Sphelele Mkhulise. Later on, Masandawana handed a debut to Katlego Mohamme, who came on alongside Sifiso Ngobeni to replace Grant Kekana and Bongani Zungu.

It was in the 70th minute when Maritzburg managed to find an equalizer. Starting from their goalkeeper, Leaner, the ball made its way towards the middle where it bounced past a Downs player. Rowan Human and Ishmael Njoti played a quick one-two pass, setting up Ali Meza, who calmly finished to level the score.

Despite both teams’ efforts to find a winner, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Nevertheless, it was a significant result for Mamelodi Sundowns as the Tshwane giants went on to celebrate their sixth consecutive league trophy and Loftus Versfeld Stadium erupted in celebration as the Sundowns players lifted the trophy, capping off another successful season for the team.

This is how we lined up:

1. Onyango, Kekana (83’ Ngobeni), Mashego, Lebusa, Coetzee, Zungu (83’ Mohamme), Allende (59’ Mailula), Maema, Mabena (59’ Mkhulise ), Ralani (77’ Nasir), Sirino.

Subs: 

Pieterse, B. Onyango, Mohamme, Ngobeni, Mkhulise, Nkosi, Mailula, Nasir.