10-man City hold champions-elect Sundowns to a goalless draw

A 10-man Cape Town City outfit held champions-elect Mamelodi Sundowns to their first draw at home in the DStv Premiership this season.

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Supporters at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium were treated to an entertaining goalless draw on Tuesday night, with most of the chances falling to Sundowns.

In the latter stages of the first half, Teboho Mokoena stood over a freekick on the D-line and his effort looked to be headed straight to the back of the net, but thanks to the wall, as it did its job and Mokwena’s effort was deflected for a corner kick.

Marcelo Allende took the set-piece and found Mokoena, whose header was powerful and on target, but goalkeeper Darren Keet was well positioned as he gathered the ball to extinguish the danger.

Rulani Mokwena and Eric Tinkler were involved in a prolonged exchange on the touchline in the opening stanza, with the former arguing that his team deserved a penalty but Tinkler was adamant that it was rather a case of ball to the hand than handball.

Cassius Mailula, who is good with either foot, had a number of chances falling to his feet in quick succession, with the first coming in the 55th minute. He did well to turn his markers before firing at Keet with his left, but that effort went agonizingly wide off the target.

A few minutes later, the exciting youngster was at the end of a Sundowns counter attack and he was found by Neo Maema, and Mailula dazzled to lose his markers before he released a bolting shot. However, the flight of the ball did not dip quick enough to cause any threat at Keet’s goal.

Round about the hour mark, City’s Brice Ambina was shown a yellow card for bringing down Themba Zwane, and some 12 minutes later, he was found guilty, this time for fouling Aubrey Modiba and referee Moses Kheswa had no choice but to show Ambina a second yellow card and was sent for an early shower,

Meanwhile, Sundowns’ Caf Champions League opponents will be revealed on Wednesday evening when the Champions League and Confederation Cup draw for the quarterfinals is made.

Sundowns will meet either of Algerian sides CR Beloluizdad and JS Kabylie, or Simba from Tanzania.