Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Black Leopards: Downs blow chance to increase lead at the top
Downs missed out on what would have been an 11th win in a row in all competitions and an 12th consecutive victory over Lidoda Duvha in league and cup
Mamelodi Sundowns weren’t at their best at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening and had to settle for a point in a 1-1 league draw with bottom-of-the-table Black Leopards.
Sundowns had been in command for most of the game but paid the price for failing to drive home their authority when the Limpopo side grabbed a 79th minute equaliser.
It was from a ninth minute corner kick that Sundowns took the lead as Mosa Lebusa timed his run to perfection to get a head onto Lyle Lakay’s excellent delivery, glancing the ball through the hands of a despairing Jonas Mendes in goal for Leopards.
The goal put Masandawana in control, although they never really pressed home their advantage at times their build-up play was ponderous.
The next real chance came in the 33rd minute when Themba Zwane evaded a couple of tackles and after being afforded time in the box to shoot, curled his effort against the woodwork.
Leopards were also to strike the bar in the first half – Sibusiso Khumalo cracked a half-volley against the upright after being played in by Ovidy Karuru in the 45th minute.
That was to be Khumalo’s last involvement as his evening was ended after a nasty collision with Lebohang Maboe, which resulted the player having an epileptic fit due to a medical condition he suffers from.
Khumalo was given oxygen and stretchered off, but the good news was that he recovered well after being taken to the dressing room and was later seen making his way to join his team-mates on the sidelines.
Back out after the restart and Lidoda Duvha appeared to have forgotten how they conceded the first goal as Lakay whipped in another corner for Lebusa to attack, which the captain for the day duly did, but this time Mendes was able to make the save.
More chances followed for the Brazilians but Maboe and Sphelele Mkhulise both failed to hit the target, and as the half wore on, Leopards’ belief that they could still get something from the match was strengthened as Downs failed to kill them off.
It wasn’t as if Lidoda Duvha were threatening much though, and yet they manged to score with 11 minutes of regulation time to go when Roderick Kabwe’s exquisite flick from a Rodney Ramagalela cross crept into the far corner.
The Tshwane side pushed hard for a winner in the dying minutes of the contest, including the five added minutes, but could not come up with the inspiration they needed.
The point earned means Downs are four points above second-placed Golden Arrows, who have played two games more.