Mamelodi Sundowns's 15-game winning run in the DStv Premiership came to an end after drawing 1-1 with a resilient Stellenbosch FC on Sunday afternoon.
DStv Premiership
Result: Stellenbosch 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 05 March 2023
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
Sundowns made wholesale changes to the side that beat Marumo Gallants in the Nedbank Cup, as Terrence Mashego, Rivaldo Coetzee, goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse and youngster Ntando Nkosi all made their first starts of the season.
The Brazilians struggled to combine going forward in the early stages and were jittery at the back as Junior Mendieta had a chance to break the deadlock on 25 minutes with a volley in the box that sailed wide.
Stellies remained the most threatening side with their high press but Jayden Adams nearly found the back of the net from a set-piece six minutes later after he glanced a header just wide of the far bottom post from a corner by Fawaaz Basadien.
The rain started pouring down towards the end of the first stanza and the home side were seemingly not affected, as a rebound in the box found their players in good positions but their shots were blocked.
Rulani Mokwena's charges had a golden chance two minutes before the interval after Peter Shalulile went clear on goal but he fired his shot wide, one-on-one with shot-stopper Sage Stephens.
Stellies were on the front foot coming from the break and Adams had a chance to break the deadlock ten minutes in with a low drive from a rebound that was smothered by Pieterse.
Sundowns needed spark going forward and Mokwena eventually made a triple change on 65 minutes to jack-up the team's performance, as Cassius Mailula, Sipho Mbule and Aubrey Modiba were introduced.
The changes did the trick for the Brazilians, as Mailula finally broke the deadlock 13 minutes before time with a poked effort from a scramble in the box and scored his eighth goal of the league season.
Steve Barker's men were fired up thereafter and were awarded a penalty five minutes before time after Mbule brought down Qobolwakhe Sibande in the box. Iqraam Rayners stepped up and placed his shot into the top corner for his sixth league goal.
There was still time for either side to get the winner with end to end attacks and Sundowns came close to snatching it in stoppage time as Teboho Mokoena's deflected shot came off the underside of the crossbar before Stephens denied Neo Maema from a rebound.
Stellenbosch held on in the end as the Brazilians' record 15-game winning run was halted.
Stellenbosch: 17. Stephens, 38. Makhanya, 21. Basadien, 7. Van Rooyen, 6. Mthethwa, 10. Mendieta, 5. Sibiya, 27. Jabaar, 23. Adams, 34. Titus, 9. Rayners
Subs: 35. Langeveldt, 12. Mgaga, 22. Sibande, 37. Mngomezulu, 26. Mcaba, 18. De Jong, 42. Boji, 29. Van Wyk
Mamelodi Sundowns: 30. Pieterse, 25. Mudau, 41. Mashego, 20. Kekana, 5. Lebusa, 40. Coetzee, 35. Maema, 31. Ntando, 27. Morena, 38. Shalulile, 23. Domingo
Subs: 1. Mweene, 13. Boutouil, 3. Ngobeni, 17. Modiba, 4. Mokoena, 24. Mbule, Siyanda, 29. Ralani, 33. Mailula.
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