Sundowns share the spoils against Usuthu

The battle for maximum points in Durban started off with both teams having a go at each other in the opening minutes of the encounter, The Brazilians first threat came in the tenth minute when Themba Zwane chipped the ball over the defenders looking for Peter Shalulile, but the opposition goalkeeper Jody February came out of his line to meet the ball before Shalulile could get to it.

Two minutesater, a number Sundowns players pushed forward into the box with the ball trying to find each other but eventually lost the ball to Usuthu. The home team held on to the ball and looked to create their own chances at goal, but they only had the opportunity in the seventeenth minute and Terrence Mashego cleared the cross out for a corner kick. Downs defense was put under pressure and had to make a number of tackles to stop the goal attempts as the hosts tried to take shots but they couldn’t penetrate the solid defense.

After twenty minutes, Zwane found space to pass the ball to Haashim Domingo who took a shot but it was blocked by the defender and Usuthu regained possession and pushed the ball back out of their box.
Bafana Ba Style pressed on and dominated possession once again after winning the ball in Usuthu’s half and moved to the edge of the box. Gaston Sirino passed the ball into the way of Bongani Zungu who fired the ball past February, scoring his first goal since his return to the club.

Another defensive error at the back from AmaZulu saw The Brazilians looking to extend the lead and steal a second goal, Zwane shared the ball with Shalulile who attempted to take a shot but was off balance as his strike went off target over the posts. With two minutes left to play in the first half, Masandawana played 1-2 touches with Sirino at the edge of the box, Zwane’s strike came in contact with his teammate as the midfielder released a shot at goal.

The Tshwane giants came out in the second half having made no changes, although after the hour mark saw a double substitution of Shalulile and Zwane swapping with Bradley Ralani and Thabiso Kutumela. Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba replaced Mashego and Domingo later in the game. Early in the opening second half, Sirino and Shalulile were involved in a 2v1 play, the Uruguay international shared the ball with his teammate but Shalulile lost his balance and Usuthu cleared the ball out.

The visitors were relentless to the attacks and put up a fight to get back into the game, Usuthu skipped past the middle and shot towards goal when Williams came out to make a save and missed the ball, but Rushine De Reuck did well to cover his keeper and cleared the ball off the line with his head. Masandawana regrouped, Ntando Nkosi passed to Zwane who aimed at goal but AmaZulu defenders put their bodies to block the ball. Riaan Hannamub struck a low shot at goal, but Williams got down to make a crucial save and deny the home team.

Just before the hour mark, Shalulile netted his 12th league goal with his left foot to put Downs ahead with two goal, the assist came from Lebohang Maboe. Five minutes later AmaZulu won a corner, which was taken by George Maluleka who delivered a mid air ball towards Ramahlwe Mphahlele as the captain headed past Williams. In the final minutes of the clash, Junior Dion leveled the matters for Usuthu with a long range strike led by a sequence of driving runs from the wingers.

The Brazilians will now turn their attention towards Marumo Gallants in the DStv Premiership on Saturday.

This is how we lined up:
Williams, Mashego (77′ Modiba), De Reuck, Lebusa, Zungu, Nkosi, Maboe (77′ Mudau), Domingo (72′ Coetzee), Zwane © (62′ Ralani), Sirino, Shalulile (62′ Kutumela).

Subs:
Pieterse, Boutouil, Mudau, Ngobeni, Coetzee, Modiba, Mokoena, Ralani, Kutumela.