Staff Reporter.
The log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday night.
While Lucas Ribeiro’s 44th minute Panenka penalty captivated fans at the stadium, a visibly frustrated Sundowns ultimately saw their four-match winning streak come to an end this week.
Abafana Bes’thende showed no fear in taking the game to Sundowns early on with Gladwin Shitolo producing the first shot at goal in the second minute. As the game progressed, Nqobeko Dlamini joined in on the fun with an effort from long range in the 10th minute.
The Brazilians kicked into gear midway through the first-half as Jayden Adams and Aubrey Modiba posed questions in the final third. Arrows thus sat tight in warding off Sundowns’ mounting pressure.
However, it was Arrows who took the lead at the half-hour mark through Keenan Phillips. With the ball played into the danger zone from a set piece situation, Phillips made sure to guide the ball home with a header from the middle of the 18-year-area.
While Phillips gave his side the lead, the Arrows defender gave away a penalty moments before the break after the referee spotted a handball inside the box. Stepping up to the spot, Lucas Ribeiro showcased his confidence with a cheeky Panenka effort.
Downs thought they had taken the lead shortly after the break through an effort by Peter Shalulile, however, the linesman deemed the Namibian to have been in an offside position. The reigning league champions continued to push and actively searched for their second goal leading up to the hour mark.
The Tshwane giants piled on the pressure as the clock ran down at the Mpumalanga Stadium but found the going tough, especially in the final third of the pitch. Abafana Bes’thende set up to be defensively sound for much of the second-half, which often left Sundowns frustrated.
Nonetheless, Sundowns missed chance after chance toward the end of the tie and were forced to settle for a point in Mpumalanga.
Meanwhile Cape Town City avoided a fifth successive Betway Premiership defeat when they drew 1-1 with TS Galaxy at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.
Elsewhere Orlando Pirates secured a narrow 1-0 away win over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha and SuperSport United and AmaZulu FC played out a 0-0 stalemate in their Betway Premiership match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday evening.