Mamelodi Sundowns failed to hold on to a one goal lead to draw with Moroka Swallows in a Dstv Premiership match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

The games are coming through thick and fast for Sundowns and this weekend saw another top of the table clash against a strong opponent in Swallows. This game pitted two sides who have not tasted defeat in the DStv Premiership season. Going into this game Masandwana made a couple of changes into the starting eleven with Captain Hlompho Kekana and Gaston Sirino replacing Brian Onyango and Peter Shalulile.

The two sides started the game at a high pace even though it was scorching hot in Atteridgeville, Swallows were there the first side to take a sniff at goals as Ruzaigh Gamaldien took a shot which was blocked by Mosa Lebusa, a few minutes later Themba Zwane had a chance and his shot was blocked for a corner. Sirino also had a try at goal and his attempt was spilled by Virgil Vries and was quick to recover with Romeo lurking.

A few nice touches from Sirino on the right saw him deliver enough to pass the ball to Zwane who laid the ball for Kekana but his effort sailed narrowly past the Swallows goal. The Captain had another attempt saved by the Swallows keeper from a free-kick. With the first half coming to a close, up stepped Kermit Erasmus as he placed the ball past Vries after a great assist from George Maluleka to make it 1-0.

The Brazilians upped their game in the second stanza and Lebo Maboe saw his shot deflected into the hands of the Keeper. Masandawana kept pushing for the second goal and some great combination from Maboe and Zwane saw the shot saved again by Vries who was the busiest keeper on the day.

Sibusiso Vilakazi and Zwane combined again as the ball was saved by Vries. In the last five minutes of the game Swallows kept pushing for the equaliser but the Masandawana defence proved a hard nut to crack. It took the last kick of the game for the visitors to grab the equaliser after a shot from the free-kick was saved by Denis Onyango and the ball fell kindly for Musa Nyatama who headed it in to make it 1-1.

Masandawana maintains its unbeaten run and has twenty-seven points after thirteen games.

Soka25east.com