Maritzburg United and Mamelodi Sundowns drew 1-1 in the DStv Premiership match which was played at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night.
As a result, Team of Choice remained 16th on the league table, while Masandawana also remain at the top of the standings.
Masandawana threatened first when Themba Zwane forced goalkeeper Sebastian Mwange into a great save just six minutes into the match.
The Team of Choice were not afraid to push forward in numbers in search of the opening goal with the hard-running Thabiso Kutumela keeping the visitors’ defence busy.
The Bafana Bafana international came close to scoring when his headed effort was brilliantly saved by Denis Onyango in the Sundowns goal-posts in the 13th minute.
Mwange then became a busy man in the Maritzburg goal-posts as he pulled off two great saves to deny Peter Shaulile with pressure mounting on the home side.
However, Maritzburg looked dangerous on the counter-attack as Kutumela’s shot was fantastically kept out by Onyango just before the hour-mark.
It was end-to-end stuff as Sundowns took the lead at the other end after Lebohang Maboe set-up Zwane, who beat Mwange to make it 1-0 to Sundowns in the 32nd minute.
The hosts tried to respond with a goal, but Kutumela was denied by a well-positioned Onyango, who ensured that the first-half ended with Sundowns leading 1-0.
Maritzburg suffered a blow a few minutes into the second-half as Mwange picked up an injury after pulling off magnificent save to deny Kermit Erasmus.
The Zambia international was then replaced by former Bidvest Wits shot-stopper Jethren Barr in the 54th minute.
However, the Team of Choice continued to attack with confidence and they managed to level matters and it was Kwanda Mngonyama, who scored against his former side.
The lanky defender headed home Daniel Morgan’s well-taken corner-kick to make it 1-1 as the home side’s perseverance was rewarded on the hour-mark.
Masandawana then pressed the hosts and Hlompho Kekana unleashed a thunderous shot which was well-saved by Barr with 18 minutes left on the clock.
Lesedi Kapinga replaced Erasmus with 10 minutes left on the clock and the defending champions searched for the late winning goal
However, the last genuine chance of the match fell for Kutumela, but he was brilliantly denied by Onyango from a one-on-one situation and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Maritzburg (1) 1 (Zwane 32′)Sundowns (0) 1 (Mngonyama 60′)TEAMS:
Maritzburg United:Mwange (Barr 54′), Allie, Morgan, Hachi (Graham 75′), De Reuck, Ntshangase (Meza 46′), Mngonyama (Sanoka 75′), Claasen, Buchanan, Moseamadi, Kutumela (Tlolane 90′).
Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Morena, Lakay, Nascimento, B. Onyango, Jali, Kekana, Maboe, Zwane (Domingo 90’+2), Shalulile (Kapinga 80′), Erasmus.© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
