Newly crowned DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns saw their impressive winning record at home halted by ten-man Cape Town City on Tuesday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Cape Town City
Date: 04 April 2023
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Cassius Mailula, Marcelo Allende, Neo Maema and Grant Kekana were the only players to retain their spots from Satuday's win over Coton Sport, as the likes of Ronwen Williams, Peter Shalulile and and Themba Zwane were recalled.
Rulani Mokwena's charges dominated possession from the onset, with Teboho Mokoena, Maema and Zwane seeing a lot of the ball although clear-cut chances were hard to come by.
The game's first opening, however, fell to the Citizens when Khanyiso Mayo teed up Thato Mokeke on the edge box before the latter saw his drilled effort saved by Williams through a sea of bodies.
While Darren Keet was barely tested, Williams was called into action on 30 minutes to keep out a curling strike from Darwin González that looked destined for the far corner of the goal.
Sundowns looked to carve out a chance nine minutes later when a neat passing move ended with Mailula collecting a pass in the box but after turning his marker, the young striker could only fire straight at Keet.
City coach Eric Tinkler opted for a change at the start of the second-half, with striker Bertrand Junior Mani making for Brice Ambina, who slotted into the midfield.
Sundowns went close to pulling ahead just before the hour mark, as Mailula cut in from the right side of the box before unleashing a left-footed strike that sailed just wide of the upright.
That proved to be Mailula's final involvement in the game as the Bafana Bafana international made way for Abubeker Nasir, who was on target in the CAF Champions League win over the weekend.
Sundowns had received a boost in trying to breakdown the City defence, as second-half substitute Ambina was sent off in the 74th minute after picking up his second yellow card 13 minutes after receiving his first.
The Brazilians carved a big chance with six minutes left on the clock as Zwane did well to play in Shalulile, who turned well before blazing over the crossbar with only Keet to beat.
Sixteen-year-old Siyabonga Mabena was also introduced by Sundowns late on and he managed to carve out a chance on 90 minutes when he skipped past Thamsanqa Mkhize before firing over the target.
That proved to be the final chance of the game as Sundowns had to settle for a point, which saw their 11-game winning run at home come to an end at the hands of City.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: 32. Williams, 25. Mudau, 17. Modiba, 20. Kekana, Mvala, 4. Mokoena, 35. Maema, 11. Allende, 18. Zwane, 38. Shalulile, 33. Mailula
Subs: 1. Pieterse, 13. Boutouil, 41. Mashego, 27. Morena, 24. Mbule, 21. Mkhulise, 44. Mabena, 23. Domingo, 28. Nasir
Cape Town City: 16. Keet, 2. Mkhize, 15. Cupido, 12. Fielies, 13. Van Heerden, 3. Mokeke, 17.Zapata, 26. Nodada, 11. Mayo, 20. Darwin, 21. Mani
Subs: 31. Mpandle, 5. Ambina, 6. Mokuoane, 7. Drammeh, 25. Gordinho, 23. Rhodes, 10. Mdantsane, 27. Goedeman, 41 Daniels
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