No Tshwane Winner

The points were shared in the Tshwane derby as SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns played to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match at the Loftus Versveld on Monday.

Sibusiso Khumalo opened the scoring for United while Katlego Mashego equalised for the Brazilians.

The opening 45 minutes saw both sides with their fair share of opportunities in front of goal, but it was United who made the most of them going into the half time break a goal up.

The Brazilians were quickest out of the blocks and had a chance to score as early as the third minute, but Khama Billiat failed to hit the target from only a couple yards out after connecting with a Bryce Moon cross.

The next effort on goal came in the 12^th minute as Hlompho Kekana fired a powerful struck 35-yard free-kick over the crossbar.

Three minutes later and United were afforded their first sight of goal after Miame Niang found himself through on goal after latching onto a George Maluleka pass, but the tall striker poked his shot just wide with Kennedy Mweene rushing him.

In the 21^st minute SuperSport did take the lead after Sibusiso Khumalo drove a 35-yard thunderbolt into the top right-hand corner of the net, 1-0.

Eight minutes later and Kurt Lentjies missed a guilt edged chance to double United’s lead when he failed to beat Mweene from 14-yards out after a goalmouth scramble fell to him. To Mweene’s credit he did make a good save low and to his right to deny the United man.

Sundowns ended the half the stronger of the two teams and came close to finding the equaliser in the 38^th minute as Billiat played a neat one-two with Katlego Mashego before shooting inches wide form just inside the box.

The start of the second half saw Sundowns doing all the pressing and they quickly rewarded with a goal in the 48^th minute as Mashego fired home a 22-yard free-kick, 1-1.

The next effort on goal only came 20 minutes later as Billiat brought the best out of Rowen Fernandez, the United keeper diving full stretch to his left to deny the Sundowns man from 24-yards out.

Sameehg Doutie should have scored the game’s third goal in the 77^th minute when he found the ball at his feet 14-yards out from goal and under no pressure from the defence, but shot over the crossbar.

Seven minutes later and Doutie’s night got worse as he was sent from the field after receiving his second yellow card.

The match ended 1-1.

SuperSport United (1) 1 (Khumalo 21’)

Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 1 (Mashego 48’)

Teams

SuperSport United: Fernandez, Moloi, Diouf, Gyimah, Khumalo, Doutie, Mkhabela, Maluleka (Nel 64’), Lentjies (Gabonamong 89’), Nxumalo (Nkoana 75’), Niang

Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Moon, Schut, Masenamela, Mashaba (Moriri 72’), Kekana (Modise 46’), Shongwe, Billiat, Sumaila, Mashego (Wome 92’), Malajila

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