Mamelodi Sundowns played to a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch in an exciting DStv Premiership game at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.
The Brazilians collected a point on the road against a confident Stellenbosch side when Cassius Mailula gave Bafana Ba Style the lead in the second half, poking the ball past Sage Stephens into the net. Stellies equalized through Iqraam Rayners when the home team was awarded a penalty with five minutes left to play.
The game in the Mother City got off to a high speed and intensity as the two teams battled each other in the rain. Reyaad Pieterse was forced into a save early, with Junior Mendieta’s strike on target. Masandawana shortly followed with their first effort at goal, Neo Maema aimed his pass to Peter Shalulile in the Stellies 18 area and the Stellies defender headed it towards Thapelo Morena who blasted his shot wide off.
Stellies got back into the action again with Devon Titus getting around Terrence Mashego and cutting the ball back to Mendieta and the striker took a shot towards Pieterse who made a great save for The Brazilians.
The Stellenbosch continued to press very high and put Downs defense under pressure, eventually Mashego committed a foul on David Van Rooyen and a free kick given to the opposition with no results coming for the home team.
Just before the half hour mark, Haashim Domingo saw his acrobatic kick saved by Stephens, after good work from Ntando Nkosi who chipped the ball over into the box. Stellies responded with a double chance to take the lead, but they were unable to connect their final shots inside Pieterse’s box.
With the half time break coming closer and closer, Shalulile was next to threaten for Downs, firing in from Domingo’s pass the striker tried to take a shot but his attempt to the left went past the face of goal. Neo Maema closed off the first half with a long range shot outside the box, but his strike was not powerful enough to go past Stephens and both teams went into the tunnel goalless.
The second half got off to an end to end battle, both teams persisted to go at each other in search for an opener, Jayden Adams showed up with a promising volley for Stellies and forced Pieterse to get low and make a save.
Masandawana made changes to their line up after an hour and five minutes, Nkosi, Mashego and Morena were called off as Sipho Mbule, Mailula and Aubrey Modiba came on. Mosa Lebusa was on form to make a crucial clearance in the box after Stellies won the ball from Downs half and regained possession for his side.
At seventy six minutes Masandawana took the lead in the game through Mailula. The 21-year old scored his 8th league goal after scrambling for the ball in the box and poking it past the goalkeeper. Stellies didn’t look to back down from the challenge and kept on applying pressure on Sundowns defense, Pieterse made an incredible save from Antonio Van Wyk’s strike and denied the home team a goalscoring opportunity.
Unfortunately for The Brazilians their lead was threatened in the dying minutes of the encounter when Mbule brought down Qobolwakhe Sibande in an attempt to stop the attack and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Rayners made no mistakes and converted from the chance.
Mbule looked to redeem his mistake and stepped up to take a free kick after Maema was fouled a few steps from the arch. Mbule’s shot got on target and forced the goalkeeper to make a save. Play continued from both sides, but Masandawana’s efforts to pull back another goal did not trouble Stephens and both teams settled for a point each.
This is how we lined up:
Pieterse, Mudau, Mashego (65′ Mbule), Coetzee, Kekana, Lebusa ©, Maema, Nkosi (65′ Mailula), Morena (65′ Modiba), Shalulile (84″ Mokoena), Domingo
Subs:
Mweene, Boutouil, Ngobeni, Modiba, Mokoena, Mbule, Nyanga, Ralani, Mailula.
It was a very bad game, the line up shows it all. the coach chose to draw or lose the game, it is not a bad idea to field new team or try new combinations but start with the one you know, seal the game then you can make changes. This nkosi boy didn’t show up, mashego was no where to be found but thanks to goal keeper he shows quality. any way we learn by mistakes and I hope the coach see that yesterday
Good Day Yellow Nation Big up to everyone whose the part of this Family
Coming to the Game not one of the best and I am sure that everyone knows why .I am fine with one point due to the Fact that ,We have been loaded with lot of games in short space of time so the Technical Team needs to rest some players and give opportunity to some players who have not played that much and to players who are coming from injuries mostly it is so pleasing to see youngsters being given an opportunity to play and get experience Well done to the Technical team.Lots of positive from youngsters specially that pass from Nkosi to Domingo that was world class and the energy they Bring .I can only say future looks bright .Its really good what the Technical Teams is doing that means we will never find ourselves where we will say, We are not winning Trophies because we are building .like other people
Not happy with the point but very much happy with what the technical team is doing,giving our talented young players a chance.Let us forget about the records and start building a team for next season now because we have already won the league.Mailula has settled now let us push for Nkosi,that boy is very good he just need to be given freedom of expression,the passes he gave to Morena and Doming shows how good the boy is.Very much happy with how Peterse performed he didn’t disappoint i would have loved for him to get a clean sheet,he is part of the future.Riva did exceptionally well he was my man of the match.Coach you deserve a Bell’s for the good job,we see what you trying to do, a team should not be so predictable,i still remember vividly when Zwane got injured last season against Swallows when we have already won the league,it was always ZWANE AND SHALULILE.Let us have faith on our development players,if European teams can do it why not us.Let us stop signing expensive players who will still need time to acclimatize when we have our own gold unless they are special talent like Nasir and Allende.We also need to promote you defenders.We have a very special team thanks to the technical team. If you are not brave you will never be successful in soccer,take risks,make mistakes and learn from them.
Difficult game because the line up was not good, many inexperienced and unfited players started the game. Although the technical team should use other players due to many games in short time, it is important to start with the experienced and fited players, and introduce other players when the victory is secured, we lost unnecessary points.
I am very happy with the point got from this game it is not a setback nor a disappointment.Sundowns will reach 59 points of which no one will arrive there, Sundowns is good as the champions now,our real focus now is on Nedbank Cup& the Champions League.Even if Sundowns fielded a makeshift line up or even if Zwane was there as our go to player Sundowns could have came with a draw in the Western Cape.Let us not be hard to the technical team,a round of applause to the coaches.