Mamelodi Sundowns registered back-to-back draws in the DStv Premiership after a stalemate with Polokwane City on Saturday afternoon.
Sundowns showed a handful of alterations in Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau and Marcelo Allende notably and looked to sign their final clash of the year off in style.
The Tshwane giants weren’t at their fluent best following the earlier stages amidst the flashes of danger presented by Allende, Thapelo Maseko and Peter Shalulile but no joy showed.
Rise and Shine surprisingly looked to bench over the midway point and opted to remove young Luciano Van Heerden to introduce Rodney Maphangule.
City fancied their chances moreover on the break, though did come close to the lead late in the half where a half-volley from Manuel Kambala forced the host to clear their lines.
The league leaders remained on the front-foot after halftime, with a relentless body to the defensive box of Polokwane in search of the opener but continued to fluff their lines.
Polokwane didn’t shy away from the lead and had a first-time shot from a clever angle by substitute Tlou Nkwe draw goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to a save.
Masandawana launched a response minutes later and could’ve had the lead from a curling free-kick by Teboho Mokoena, but Manuel Sapunga flapped away.
There were drama 70 minutes in when Shalulile finished off Zwane’s layoff from close-range, but protestations from the Polokwane players saw referee Akhona Makalima chalked off the goal.
Sundowns didn’t lose hope but pulled another threat where a powerful long-range shot from Bathusi Aubaas in added time forced Sapunga to go down and turn behind for a corner.
In the end, the reigning champions couldn’t get the all-important goal and had to settle for yet another goalless draw.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Modiba, Kekana, Coetzee, Mokoena, Allende, Maseko, Zwane, Ribeiro, Shalulile
Subs: D. Onyango, Mvala, Mashego, Morena, Mkhulise, Aubaas, Nkosi, Sirino, Nku
Polokwane City: Sapunga, Matuludi Ndlovu, Nikani, Nkaki, Kambala, Mashikinya, Van Heerden, Mapfumo, Ramabu, Nana
Subs: Mathebula, Maphangule, Baloyi, Chauke, Marema, Nkwe, Baloyi, Thuto, Raphadu
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