Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a 1-1 draw by Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium in the DStv Premiership on Sunday evening.
Aubrey Modiba’s goal early in the second half had threatened to bring a home defeat for Amakhosi before Phathutshedzo Nange leveled things up late on as the game approached full time. Two points dropped on the road keeps Masandawana in first place with 62 points after 28 games played.
The Brazilians flew out of the blocks and threatened through Modiba’s attempt at goal within the opening three minutes. Modiba was unfortunate to connect his foot with the ball that came rolling in the box.
Keagan Dolly followed from distance on the other side of the pitch after Amakhosi regained possession of the ball, Dolly’s strike hit the side of the net and sent shockwaves to Downs defense which was caught flat footed. Khama Billiat was unable to connect with the ball inside the box from Leonardo Castro’s cross.
Pressure appeared to be building for Masandawana when Cole Alexander had the opportunity to take a shot at goal, but the attacker’s shot went off target. Castro continued to push forward for the glamour boys, making movements on the left side of the pitch in attempt to find an opener for his side.
As the half progressed, the game became a physical battle between the two sides. Castro was the first player to be booked in the referee’s book in the first half, followed by Khuliso Mudau and Sphelele Mkhulise and Nange in the second half.
The tension proceeded to grow inside the stadium as both teams were looking more than capable of grabbing a winner, the better chance fell to Themba Zwane who came close to goal with his shot narrowly going over the cross bar. Gaston Sirino also took his chance at goal with a fine strike but no luck for the Uruguay international striker.
Reyaad Pieterse was called into action before the conclusion of the half, palming away Cardoso’s effort from outside the box following a neat one-two amongst chiefs’ players. Masandawana continued to apply pressure on their opponents before the half reached it’s conclusion, and Modiba’s long range shot coming close to goal.
Not long after the interval, The Tshwane giants were looking deadly, Mshishi’s header in the box went flashes past Bruce Bvuma’s posts by an inch before Modiba’s brilliant strike put the reigning champions ahead. The impressive Sirino played a long cross from the right side of the box to the left to connect with Modiba, the 26-year-old left footer netted home for Bafana Ba Style.
The visitors remained on the front foot, with Zwane and Lebohang Maboe with efforts off target. Chiefs’ best chances of the second half came from Billiats’s shot which was brilliantly saved by Pieterse. Amakhosi’s efforts were eventually rewarded in the 75th minute, Nange found an equalizer for the home team when Downs cleared out the ball out of danger only for it to land on Nange. The 30-year-old midfielder drilled his shot the same time from distance.
The Glamour boys looked more active after the equalizer, pushing more numbers forward into Masandawana’s half, Mosa Lebusa missed a tackle on Kgaogelo Sekgola who was already in the box as the attacker went down and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Keagan Dolly was sent forward to take the shot, however he had an attempt blocked by Pieterse who punched out the penalty kick.
The visitors struggled to work the intensity back into the game and Bafana Ba Style were threatening on the counter-attack, with Peter Shalulile headed towards goal before added time, the Namibian international was brought down but the referee allowed for the game to go on. Samir Nurkovic fired on the side of the net as the visitors looked to extend their lead.
Chiefs threw men forward in the final moments but still couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net, ultimately having to settle for a point.
This is how we lined up:
- Pieterse, M. Lebusa ©, D. Lunga, K. Mudau, G. Sirino (78′ Maboe), A. Modiba (87′ Lakay), S. Mkhulise, A. Jali, T. Zwane, L. Maboe (87′ Ralani), P. Shalulile.
Subs:
- Mweene, N. Maema, T. Kutumela, T. Mokoena, L. Lakay, T. Morena, G. Motupa, L. Kapinga B. Ralani, T. Morena
Those who have eyes would have seen that we have cowards of a technical team,that game was a dead rubber,there was no need to make substitutions very late,we needed fresh legs early majority of players played midweek,they should have been rested.We were supposed to use the remaining games to prepare for next season,we can’t be forever relying on Zwane, we need to produce a player who can take over from Zwane,if you can check he has done nothing in the past 5 games,no assist,goal and missed 2 penalties.This nonsense of playing for records and not looking for the future must stop,we play to win cups and we have won the league,this is an opportune to try something different.Lebusa is a recipe for disaster,You just can’t be scared of a dead team like chiefs,we will never win champions league under this technical team,I’M not pessimistic but if we can have high hopes in the Nedbank cup most of us will die of heart attack under this technical team. How are you going to see how good other players are if you don’t give them a enough chance even when the league is already won,look at Modiba and Pieterse’s performance they are marvel to watch.We are tired of watching the like of Zwane,Jali and Ralani every game.
i agree with you my brother 100%. its high time we hold the technical team accountable. it’s abo Themba Zwane and the Sirinos own this team. this is disturbing, we have good players seating outside, whilst we are playing tired players who are not hungry. where is Domingos, Lesedi Kapinga, Teboho Mokoena and George Maluleka……ayyeeee this is boring….the technical you are making us hate our players….i am tired of seeing Themba Zwane and Sirino playing for themselves….what does Lebohang Maboe offer….20 minutes without touching the ball….
Seconded member I thought we’ll start again with players like Maraisane, Mamema since Manqoba praised him during the week but to my amazement they start with Zwane and Sirino the players that are tired and since Pitso wanted Sirino I mean the guy is so poor he’s even afraid to mark or tackle an opponent how I wish we can release him next season I don’t see his input at Downs anymore.
Another problem I’ve noticed lately the players that are not on matchday squad we are no longer told what’s happened with them only being told”ruled out”and that explanation doesn’t elaborate whether they are injured or not especially Mvala,Mkhuma etc.
Everytime on our social media you’ll find that explanation from our webmaster,even in our last two games you’ll be surprised if they can feature D.Onyango in preparation for the final another useless player who took us out in Champs league for two consecutive seasons.
The technical team does not care about succesion….they feel they owe abo Themba Zwane and Sirinos and lebohang maboe…..we are tired of seeing this players under perform…like i said that we will not go to the finals of Caf with this Zwane Team…..i am saying again if this is the same team we are taking to Nedbank finals…..we are coming back with nothing…and next year we wont even go past the qualifiers of Caf…….we should be giving George,Teboho, mkhulise, domingos , kapinga..maraisane and them game time…then we will play to win….otherwise the new technical director should fire all of you coaches before it is too late.
I agree with you guy that our technical team should give other guys a chance but at the same should rest to much their first starting 11….my worry is this caf champions league seems our technical team doesn’t learn, I think everyone saw that if you want to qualify for next round special on knock out stages you must try by all means to win first game home or away… But bro Mangqoba likes to bank players for next game and put unnecessary pressure on him and the players…. Wake up technical team wake up….
That’s true guys Sirino and zwane should substituted early and the ref wanted us loose by giving them stupid penalty but they failed
Guys I concur with you, even on the part of trying to make Shalulile to break the record set by Mbesuma we r also running a risk of a potential injury to Peter Shalulile can we rest him in the next game or maybe bring him in the second half.We were so much obsessed about Kaizer Chiefs in such a way u will retain Mkhulise,Maboe,Sirino&Zwane,as if Domingo,Kapinga,Motupa&Maraisane.Favouratism at Sundowns can be such an ugly sin at Sundowns, that these coaches r sabotaging the same thing that they constructed so beautifully.Even Erasmus could have been sent on the field of play&we know he likes to score against Chiefs,coaches we were so annoyed by your cowardness or lack of courage to bring fresh ideas to the field of play.Its like we were playing for a draw& not to enjoy the game to the fullest.Chiefs were the only ones anxious about 3 points but to respect the game doesn’t mean we must have a rigid approach.