Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 1
(Leon 54’)

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(Da Silva 25’)

Betway Premiership
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Amakhosi came away from Loftus Versfeld with a well-earned and hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in an ill-tempered Betway Premiership clash on Wednesday evening in Pretoria.

Flavio Da Silva had the visitors go into halftime with a 1-0 lead after opening the scoring in the 25^th minute before Brayan Leon equalised nine minutes into the second half.

The intensity was at full throttle from the first whistle, with tackles flying in from both teams as neither held back, and referee Luxolo Badi had his hands full trying to keep a lid on the match, issuing a number of yellow cards, two of which led to Keanu Cupido and Mduduzi Shabalala having to leave the field injured, the latter with a suspected fractured arm.

The home team were on the front foot for much of the half but the well organised chiefs defensive structure coped well with the onslaught, with their well-choreographed high backline catching Sundowns offside on numerous occasions and Siphesihle Ndlovu and Lebo Maboe doing a sterling job in the centre of the park… and when Sundowns did breach it, Brandon Petersen was there to save the day, first at his near post in the 13^th minute from Aubrey Modiba’s stinging shot and the preventing Brayan Leon from rounding him after he was pt through by Jayden Adams.

The goal came from Amakhosi’s only meaningful attack in the opening period. Sundowns keeper Ronwen Williams’ underhit clearance was knocked forward by Pule Mmodi to Shabalala, whose deft pass to Da Silva gave him the half-yard of space that is all a natural striker needs, and he took a touch and squeezed his shot past Williams into the net.

Petersen saved again from Modiba in the 37^th minute but that aside, Sundowns did not threaten the visitors’ goal and grew increasingly frustrated as the half closed with them trailing by a goal to nil.

The tenacity continued at high pace into the second half as Sundowns searched for parity, which they achieved in the 54^th minute when Colombian striker Leon nipped between the Chiefs centrebacks to bury Thapelo Morena’s cross from the right past Petersen.

Chiefs endured a period of pressure as the home side looked to capitalise on their equaliser, but withstood it well and then, in the 63^rd minute, Sundowns were reduced to 10 men when Jayden Adams, who had been booked for the brutal challenge that ended Shabalala’s participation, was shown a second yellow for simulation and sent from the field.

This gave Amakhosi a bit of breathing space, and they managed the remainder of the time prudently, but for a last-ditch effort from Iqraam Rayners deep into stoppage time that was kept out by a brilliant fingertip save from Petersen.

The result takes Chiefs up to 48 points from 27 matches, virtually guaranteeing Chiefs CAF football next season and seriously dents Sundowns’ title aspirations. Next up is an away game against Sekhukhune United on Sunday, 10 May.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1); Cross (48), McCarthy (35), Msimango (25), Monyane (2), Maboe (6), Ndlovu (8) (Mthethwa (5) 66’), Mmodi (13) (Velebayi (17) 84’), Shabalala (7) (Sirino (10) 45+3’), Lilepo (99) (Vilakazi (28) 83’), Da Silva (77)

Subs not used: Bvuma (16); Miguel (84), Frosler (39), Cele (21), Du Preez (9)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams (30); Mudau (25), Ndamane (3), Cupido (24) (Kekana (20) 17’), Modiba (6) (Shalulile (38) 86’), Adams (8), Mokoena (4), Allende (11) (Morena (27) 46’), Zwane © (18) (Santos (10) 46’), Matthews (17), Leon (12) (Rayners (13) 80’)

Subs not used: Onyango (1); Lunga (29), Mkhulise (21), Mabena (34) 

Coach: Miguel Cardoso