Mamelodi Sundowns’ 15-game winning streak in the DStv Premiership came to an end on Sunday afternoon after they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Stellenbosch FC at the Danie Craven Stadium.
Terrence Mashego, Rivaldo Coetzee, goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse and youngster Ntando Nkosi all made their first starts of the season for the Brazilians, who struggled to combine going forward in the early stages and were jittery at the back.
Junior Mendieta had the first chance of the game on 25 minutes with a volley in the box that sailed wide.
Stellenbosch were the most threatening side with their high press and Jayden Adams nearly broke the deadlock six minutes later with a header that just went wide of the far bottom post from a corner by Fawaaz Basadien.
The home side had a golden chance two minutes before the interval after Peter Shalulile went clear on goal but he fired his shot wide, one-on-one with shot-stopper Sage Stephens.
Rulani Mokwena’s side had a much better start to the second half and Adams had a chance to break the deadlock ten minutes in with a low drive from a rebound that was smothered by Pieterse.
The Brazilians needed spark going forward and Mokwena eventually made a triple change on 65 minutes to jack-up the team’s performance, as Cassius Mailula, Sipho Mbule and Aubrey Modiba were introduced.
Mailula finally broke the deadlock 13 minutes before time with a poked effort from a scramble in the box and scored his eighth goal of the league season.
However, Stellenbosch were awarded a penalty five minutes before time after Mbule brought down Qobolwakhe Sibande in the box and Iqraam Rayners stepped up to place his shot into the top corner for his sixth league goal.
Sundowns came close to snatching the winner in stoppage time as Teboho Mokoena’s deflected shot came off the underside of the crossbar before Stephens denied Neo Maema from a rebound. Stellenbosch held on in the end as the Brazilians’ record 15-game winning run was halted.
