Gallant Marumo hold Sundowns to a draw

Mamelodi Sundowns recorded their second successive game without a victory following their 1-1 draw with Marumo Gallants in the DStv Premiership match played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Thursday.

It was a disappointing result for the home side, who were eager to bounce back to winning ways after losing to AmaZulu FC prior to the Bahlabani Ba Ntwa clash.

Downs had the upper hand in the earlier stages of the match, with two glorious chances coming their way through Aubrey Modiba, but the full-back wasn’t able to get the ball into the net.

Gallants, at the other end, would also come close to scoring following some wonderful play, but Philip Ndlondo’s first time shot hit the upright.  After the half-hour mark, things looked bad for the home side, as Gallants broke the dead-lock from the penalty spot taken by Ndlondlo, after the Brazilians defender Ricardo Nascimento was judged to have handled the ball inside the box.

The reigning league champions took only three minutes to respond, after a failed clearance inside the visitors box landed on the feet of Lesedi Kapinga, who composed himself well and showed a bit of some skill before slotting the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Sundowns could have easily gone into half-time in the lead, but Brian Onyango’s header was cleared off the line by Lebohang Mabotja.

Downs were finding it very hard to break the stubborn Gallants defence, with the side looking desperate to get a second goal. Meanwhile, Ndlondlo continued to be a menace for the Pretoria side, with his long range shot in the 67^th minute was saved by Ricardo Goss. 

Both teams went on a quest for the winning goal, but none of the attempts from either side were fruitful, leaving them to walk away with a point each.

Sundowns, however, get to stay at the top of the league standings with 44 points having played 19 games, while Gallants would be glad to have walked away with a point away from home, with the side occupying 11^th spot on the log from 19 games.