Sundowns draw against Maritzburg

Alje Schut scored a late equaliser as Mamelodi Sundowns came back from a goal down to play to a 1-1 draw against Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Namibian international Heinrich Isaacks fired the Team of Choice ahead in the first half but they were unable to hold on for maximum points as they conceded a goal in the dying seconds of the game.

The hosts fired the early warning shots with Ashley Hartog testing Thela Ngobeni with a low shot in the 9^th minute while Bongolwethu Jayiya did the same two minutes later.

Sundowns then started to get into the game with Hlompho Kekana firing wide in the 12^th minute, while Lebohang Mokoena also missed the target in the 25^th minute.

The opening goal arrived in the 34^th minute as Isaacks sidefooted home at the far post, connecting with a pinpoint low cross from Kurt Lentjies.

United almost extended their advantage in the 49^th minute when Jayiya received a cross from Lentjies on the left side of the box, but he sent his shot over the target.

Two minutes later Virgil Vries made his first real save of the game, using both hands to punch a well-struck shot from Anthony Laffor to safety.

The chances were few and far between in the second half but defender Thabo Nthethe came close in the 66^th minute, heading over the crossbar from Elias Pelembe’s corner.

Jayiya had an opportunity to seal the win for the home side four minutes into added time when he used his skill to create space inside the box, but his shot flew well over the crossbar.

Sundowns equalised a minute later as Schut rose highest at the near post to direct a powerful header past Vries and into the back of the net.

Maritzburg United (1) 1 (Isaacks 34’)

Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 1 (Schut 90+5’)

Teams:

Maritzburg United: Vries, De Jongh, Booysen D, Booysen M, Matuka, Mkhize (Zulu 46’), Lentjies (Morton 80’), Hartog, Jayiya, Isaacks, Nkosi (Mohammed 88’)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Ngobeni, Langerman, Schut, Nthethe, Mphahlele, Mokoena (Ramagalela 79’), Modise, Kekana, Pelembe, Moriri (Wome 68’), Laffor (Malajila 61’)

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