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.
Sundowns held by Stellenbosch 🤝 pic.twitter.com/L4hrHxMJTA
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 5, 2023
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.
