Mamelodi Sundowns were left frustrated once again as they played to a goalless draw against Swallows FC on Sunday afternoon.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena re-called Sipho Mbule, Haashim Domingo and Sphelele Mkhulise following their goalless draw against Cape Town City, as Swallows were without striker Kagiso Malinga.
Masandawana experienced a tough opening and very nearly fell behind after Tshediso Patjie cut in to the right outside the area before he stung the gloves of Ronwen Williams with a powerful shot.
The Dube Birds closed-in again minutes from their last threat and had Evans Rusike bearing down on goal from a stray pass by Grant Kekana, but the chance went abegging.
Star striker Peter Shalulile's first sight to goal came around the half-hour mark where he lashed a loose ball well over the top with the goal right at his mercy from a corner.
Masandawana pushed up again a minute to halftime and had Teboho Mokoena's shot from 30-yards out fly narrowly across the top corner of the net.
The Dube Birds continued to frustrate the Premiership champions a little in the second period and played through a low-block defensive structure that limited the spaces.
Sundowns then decided to change tact over 12 minutes in from the break and removed Mkhulise to bring on Ethiopian international Abubeker Nasir.
The host struggled to cope with the relentless attacks of the Brazilians and were fortunate not to go behind when Shalulile blazed a dropped ball from Daniel Akpeyi way over target.
Masandawana debuted Abdelmounaim Boutouil off the bench near the closing ten minutes as he replaced Aubrey Modiba before Bongani Zungu came on for Mokoena.
Sundowns didn't stop piling openings with seconds to go and saw a first-time shot from substitute Gaston Sirino bring a stern block from Akpeyi and goalless it finished in Dobsonville.
Confirmed line-ups:
Swallows: Akpeyi, Sam, Sait, Allan, Mngonyama, Patjie, Damons, Mtshali, Mthethwa, Isaacs, Rusike
Subs: Mbanjwa, Uromi, Shwabule, Sibiya, Lukhubeni, Sasman, Macheke, Amoojee, Matsheke
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Modiba, Kekana, Mvala, Mokoena, Mbule, Mkhulise, Maema, Shalulile, Domingo
Subs: D.Onyango, Boutouil, Ngobeni, Morena, Zungu, Allende, Zwane, Sirino, Nasir
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