Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns dropped points at home for the second time this season after drawing 1-1 with Marumo Gallants in their final clash of the year.
Sundowns made four changes to the side that lost to AmaZulu, as goalkeeper Ricardo Goss got his first league start alongside rare starts for Brian Onyango, Lesedi Kapinga and Aubrey Modiba while Gallants handed shot-stopper King Ndlovu his debut.
The champions still hold a commanding 15-point lead over nearest chasers Stellenbosch FC (Orlando Pirates or AmaZulu could reduce that to 14 in their late clash) and a record-extending fifth straight league crown is theirs to lose when the season resumes in February 2022.
The Brazillians almost claimed the lead as early as the second minute, with Andile Jali’s smart through ball finding the run of Aubrey Modiba, who had his stabbed shot smothered by Gallants goalkeeper King Ndlovu.
The shot-stopper was in action again in the eighth minute, plucking Modiba’s well-hit shot out of the air as the Brazilians continued their search for an early advantage.
Gallants had their first threat on goal, with Sibusiso Kumalo providing a dangerous low ball from the right which had Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo hitting the upright from close range.
Sundowns then reasserted control, but were somewhat unlucky to concede a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Katlego Otladisa’s attempted cross from the right of the box hit the hand of Ricardo Nascimento.
Ndlondlo confidently beat goalkeeper Ricardo Goss from the spot to put Bahlabane ba Ntwa 1-0 up on 32 minutes.
Just three minutes later ‘Downs drew level with Thapelo Morena’s low cross from the right was only half cleared and Lesedi Kapinga provided a classy finish, putting a defender on his rear with a dummy before firing the ball home for 1-1.
Locked at a goal apiece at the break, both teams looked to pick up in the second half where they left off in the first, with Sundowns enjoying more of the ball and looking to get their passing game into top gear, while Gallants mixed a press with quick, vertical passing.
Sundowns struggled to create scoring chances in the second half and opted for a tactical switch with 20 minutes remaining, swopping out fullback Lyle Lakay for forward Gift Motupa, who sent a snap shot wide of the mark within seconds of his arrival.
Gallants were forced onto the back foot in the dying minutes of the match, with the hosts pushing forward in search of a winning goal, though it was Bahlabane ba Ntwa who nearly claimed a late goal against the run of play when Ndlondlo whipped a shot just wide in an 87th-minute counter attack.
There is no doubt that Gallants will be the happier side based on the outcome from the game. The Limpopo-based side was evidently resorting to time-wasting tactics towards the latter end of the game as they looked to preserve a point.