Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a blow in their title race against Orlando Pirates after a 1-1 draw in a fiery Betway Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday evening.
In a game billed as a potential decider with league leaders Sundowns up against third-placed Chiefs and only two points separating Sundowns and Pirates.
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Sundowns needed to restore their five-point gap, knowing a loss or draw could see Pirates sneak back to the summit in their next league match, as they’d have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.
But the home side got off to a uphill task when Flavio da Silva opened the scoring mid-way through the opening half, after a gruelling opening stage of physical football, where Chiefs were perhaps lucky to have Siphsihle Ndlovu on the pitch.
Keanu Cupido was on the receiving end of one of the robust challenges and needed to be replaced by Grant Kekana just before the opener.
They managed to take the lead into the break but Miguel Cardoso’s tactical tweaks, with Thapelo Morena and Nuno Santos replacing Themba Zwane and Marcelo Allende saw them fight their way back.
Morena provided a pin-point delivery for Brayan Leon to level matters, the 11th goal of the season for the Colombian forward as Sundowns looked to go for broke and three points.
But the second yellow for Jayden Adams, for simulation, saw them with a man down from the 64th minute – but that didn’t deter their attacking impetus.
However, Amakhosi, who enjoyed the off break on the counter, managed to hold firm and frustrate the home side inside a sold out Loftus Versfeld to move up to 48 points, three ahead of fourth-placed AmaZulu.
Meanwhile, Sundowns remain on top with 65 points, but the door is now open for Pirates to take over the top spot, should they beat relegation-threatened Magesi in their next league encounter.
