Absa Premiership: Wasteful Sundowns Drop Points

Mamelodi Sundowns dropped two crucial points in their bid to overtake leaders Kaizer Chiefs after being held to a 1-1 draw by Highlands Park on Friday afternoon at Dobsonville Stadium.

The two teams started the game with some end to end action but Highlands struggled to muster any meaningful chances.

The first real opening chance of the game came in the third minute when Gaston Sirino set up Themba Zwane whose shot went just wide off the mark from outside the 18-yard area.

Highlands opened the scoring on the fifth minute when Peter Shalulile threaded a cracking volley into the top corner after turning Motjeka Madisha on the far side of the box.

Sundowns should have cancelled the lead in the 10th minute as Rivardo Coetzee managed to get past Tapuwa Kapini, but his effort went narrowly wide.

On the other end of the pitch, Peter Shalulile thought he had added the scoring on 18th minute but his shot was cleared by defender Tebogo Langerman.

Highlands had another good chance in the 37th minute when Shalulile found Fransaman with a fine pass but the latter blasted wide.

Pitso Mosimane’s side, however, found a way back into the tie five minutes before the break after Sphelele Mkhulise powered a header into the bottom corner Sirino’s lofted delivery outside the box.

After the break, Highlands came back stronger as they looked keen to get a goal early and put their hosts under pressure.

In the 52nd minute, Highlanders did well to win a corner which was perfectly taken, however, Nascimento was in a good position to deny them with the goalkeeper already beaten.

Sundowns almost stole the lead in the 79^th minute when Lyle Lakay flicked on the ball for Vilakazi who had a clear sight on goal but chose to try and beat Kapini on the near post but the frame of goal denied him as the custodian pounced on second pickings.

Highlands threw players forward in the final five minutes of the match, but could not find a winner and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.