Maritzburg end Sundowns unbeaten run

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Apr 25, 2018. 22:20

An 87th minute goal from Lebogang Maboe saw Maritzburg United draw 2-2 with Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night.

Following the draw the Team of Choice remain in third place on the table while Sundowns see their unbeaten run in the league come to end.

For the hosts, two goals from Andrea Fileccia and Lebogamg Maboe ensured they consolidated their spot in the top eight.

As they were looking to avenge their Nedbank Cup semi-final loss, Sundowns took the matters into their own hands from the first whistle.

In the fifth minute a cross from Thapelo Morena found Percy Tau whose header was saved by Richard Ofori, but Zwane was on hand to finish from close range, 1-0.

Sundowns kept probing for their second goal and Tau came close to scoring with a beautiful curling shot on the half hour mark, but his effort shaved the wrong side of the post.

In the 33rd minute a mistake by goalkeeper Denis Onyango, slipping when he attempted to clear the ball, allowed Fileccia to latch onto the ball and pass it into an empty net, 1-1.

The sides entered the half time tunnel with the scores level.

The second half started a little slow and chances on goal were few and far between.

Sundowns were forced into a change on the hour mark when Wayne Arendse left the field injured and was replaced by Motjeka Madisha.

Despite the set-back Sundowns continued to push forward and took the lead for a second time in the 73rd minute when Langerman found the top corner with a clinical finish from the edge of the box, 2-1.

Maritzburg were not going to go down without a fight and Maboe leveled matters for Fadlu Davids’ men three minutes from time after concluding a swift passing move with a neat finish, 2-2.

Despite the draw Sundowns remain placed at the summit of the league table with 56 points from 28 league games, four points clear of second placed Orlando Pirates.

Maritzburg United: (1) 2 (Fileccia 33’, Maboe 87’)
Mamelodi Sundowns: (1) 2 (T. Zwane 5’, Langerman 73’)

Maritzburg United: Ofori, Fransman , Sanoka, Thlone (Matima 77’), Xulu, Shandu, Makaringe, Ndlovu, Maboe, Kunene (Mekoa 80’), Fileccia (Van Wyk 66’)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Langerman, Morena, Arendse (Madisha 59’), Nascimento, Mabunda, Billiat (Soumahoro 78’), Manyisa, Kekana (Vialakzi 82’), T. Zwane, Tau