SuperSport hold Sundowns to a draw

It was Thabo Mnyamane first interval goal that put Matsatsantsa A Pitori ahead in the 11th minute.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane – who made his return to the dugout after serving a two-match ban from pitch side– was up on his feet almost the whole game, protesting against the match officials’ decisions which he believed were unfair to his team. Downs had numerous penalty appeals – all which were waved away by referee Eugene Mdluli.

After defender Richard Boateng had reoccurring heated confrontations with Percy Tau, resulting in a booking for the Ghanaian international, Eric Tinkler decided to withdraw him and introduced veteran defender Onismor Bhasera at the start of the second interval. Much to the delight of the Matsatsantsa faithful, Tinkler introduced Thuso Phala for Mnyamane just after the hour mark.

In the second half, Evans Rusike thought he had doubled up for United when he broke clear from the central defensive pairing of Motjeka Madisha and Ricardo Nascimento, beating goalkeeper Denis Onyango, only for his shot to agonizingly strike both uprights and went into touch.

Sundowns had their own share of chances, with Gaston Sirino striking the woodwork, while the attacking prowess of Tau, Themba Zwane and Khama Billiat – who was substituted for Sibusisio Vilakazi – probed until eventually, Man-of-the-Match Tau rescued a point for Masandawana in the 78th, minute scoring his ninth Premiership goal this season.

A controversial moment in the game came in the 68th minute when Rusike thought he had outsmarted Sundowns’ offside trap as he attacked Onyango’s goal, only for the linesman to halt his advances by flagging him offside.

Meanwhile, striker Jeremy Brockie came on for a cameo appearance against his former side as Mosimane unleashed the Kiwi in the last five minutes of the game.