Sundowns denied top spot after playing a draw with Marumo Gallants. Image credit: The Citizen.
(The Post News) – Mamelodi Sundowns were left frustrated on Wednesday night after being held to a 1-1 draw by Marumo Gallants in a Betway Premiership clash at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, missing the chance to reclaim top spot on the log.
Khuliso Mudau returned to the match day squad but started from the bench, while Divine Lunga, Keanu Cupido, Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams and Peter Shalulile all featured in the starting XI. Shalulile, fresh from becoming the Premiership’s all-time leading scorer, threatened early with a fourth-minute strike, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
The defending champions broke the deadlock just before the 30 minutes, when Iqraam Rayners rose to meet a cross from Marcelo Allende and headed home. But Sundowns lead lasted only seven minutes as Keanu Cupido inadvertently deflected a shot from Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo into his own net.
Iqraam Rayners was replaced at half-time by Tashreeq Matthews, who almost made an immediate impact but saw his low shot fail to trouble Arubi. Mokoena also came close with a header from another Allende delivery, while Mudau entered the fray for the final 20 minutes in his return from a self-imposed absence.
Gallants, spurred on by Ndlondlo and Christopher Sekela, threatened in the dying moments, but it was Sundowns who nearly stole all three points at the death when substitute Lebo Mothiba’s header went agonisingly wide.
Despite controlling 72% of possession and creating far more chances, Sundowns were forced to settle for their third draw in seven league outings.
Head coach Miguel Cardoso cut a frustrated figure after the final whistle. “We saw Sundowns fighting for a result until the last minute, a lot of wasted time, not a lot of positivity in the approach regarding the game from the referees, but okay, it’s Sundowns trying to fight hard for a result,” Cardoso said.
“Not an easy match; stealing the front, we had to push our luck very high in the pitch. We were penalised by a mistake we made. I think we had a lot of chances to score, and when you don’t score your goals … results like this can happen,” he said.
The Cardoso added, “It was not a wonderful game, not that it hurt, but I think we should’ve had the result from here, that’s for sure.”
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