Chigova shines as Polokwane hold Sundowns

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Tuesday Feb 19, 2019. 21:43

Mamelodi Sundowns and Polokwane City drew 1-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday.

The result saw the Brazilians and Rise and Shine remain second, and eighth respectively on the league table following the enthralling match.

The Brazilians got off to a dream start as they broke the deadlock through Themba Zwane just nine minutes into the encounter.

Gaston Sirino set-up the 29-year-old attacker, who scored with a first-time shot to make it 1-0 to Sundowns much to the delight of the home crowd.

It should have been 2-0 to Sundowns four minutes later following some confusion in the Rise and Shine box.

However, Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana placed his shot wide of the target from close range with the Polokwane defence caught ball watching.

Rise and Shine grew in confidence as the match progressed with Salulani Phiri working hard in the middle of the park.

Parity was restored in stoppage time of the first-half when Onyango surprisingly scored an own-goal from Phiri's header to make it 1-1.

As a result, the two teams were locked at 1-1 at the interval.

Sundowns piled pressure on the Polokwane defence after the start and they came close to scoring through Themba Zwane on the hour mark.

The South Africa international unleashed a low shot which was brilliantly saved by Zimbabwean keeper George Chigova in Polowane goal.

Chigova was having a good game in Polokwane goal as he pulled off a great save to deny Zwane at the near-post with 16 minutes left on the clock.

The defending champions piled pressure on the visitors in the dying minutes of the encounter.

However, Chigova made more crucial saves denying Mosa Lebusa and Lyle Lakay to ensure that the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Sundowns (1) 1 (Zwane 9')
Polokwane (1) 1 (Onyango 45'+1)

Polokwane: Chigova, Nkili, Mbonani, Mvelase, Hlongwane, Seabi, Phiri, Musona (Motloung 90'+2), Maluleke, Mashumba (Anas 84'), Booi (Mngomezulu 75').

Sundowns:Onyango, Ngcongca, Arendse (Lebusa 67'), Nascimento, Lakay, Mabunda, Kekana, Maboe, Zwane, Tade (Laffor 83'), Sirino (Mahlambi 90').