Mamelodi Sundowns opened their 2025/26 Betway Premiership account with a 1-1 draw against ChippaUnited on Saturday afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It is Arthur Sales’s goal that saw the Pretoria-based side walking away with a point.
The hosts were assertive in the opening minutes of the match, testing Ronwen Williams a few times, but the goalie remained steadfast. Masandawana also threatened the Chilli Boyz, but the defence was knitted tightly, denying Downs an opener.
A big opportunity presented itself for Masandawana just after the 20-minute mark after miscommunication by the hosts in front of the goal. Iqraam Rayners caught a sniff of the ball, but he missed the target slightly as it went wide.
After being held for 30 minutes by the hosts, Bafana Ba Style finally broke the deadlock in the 31stminute. Tashreeq Matthews had snuck the ball to Sales, who didn’t waste time and tucked it under the keeper.
Chippa tried to level matters in the final stages of the opening half through a good run that left the Downs defenders trailing. It had come from transition, but Aubrey Modiba cleared the ball away. The same play happened again, and this time around, Chippa couldn’t get it right in the final third as the attempted shot sailed over the bar. This meant Sales’ opener separated the two sides at the break.
The two sides continued with their titanic tussle with no goals to show. Modiba tried to double his side’s advantage with a cut back after the hour mark, but there was no one to receive it. In the 65thminute, the hosts found the back of the net to level matters.
Downs were quick to respond when Marcelo Allende played a backheel pass to Themba Zwane. Zwanedid not waste time with the shot, but a high alert goalkeeper smacked the strong shot away, denying the visitors an opportunity to snatch back the lead.
The visitors tried to find the back of the net as they looked to walk away with all points on offer, but they were just not going past the grey wall that stood firm in front of the goal. A point is what they could take out of this mouthwatering clash.
How we lined up: Williams ©, Basadein, Kekana, Lebusa, Modiba, Mokoena, Allende, Adams, Sales, Rayners, Matthews.
Subs: Onyango, Mdunyelwa, Cupido, Mdunyelwa, Lunga, Zwane, Mabena, Letlhaku, Shalulile.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.
