Mabasa strikes late to earn hard-fought draw against Sundowns
Stellenbosch FC snatched a late draw in a dramatic and hard-fought encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday evening.
Stellenbosch FC and reigning Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns shared the spoils after battling to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday evening.
Sundowns fashioned the first chance of the match when Marcelo Allende’s pass, intended for Iqraam Rayners, was diverted just inches wide of Stellies’ goal following a vital intervention by Olisa Ndah.
Moments later, Stellies came close to scoring themselves when Devin Titus broke clear of the opposition defence, but Masandawana ‘keeper Ronwen Williams did well to come off his line and snuff out the chance.
The team from the Winelands would come to rue that missed opportunity soon after, as the hosts capped off a well-worked move down the left with Tsiki Ntsabeleng firing home the game’s opening goal.
Ntsabaleng’s goal proved to be the difference between the sides at the half-time break as Stellenbosch headed into the dressing room trailing by a solitary goal to nil.
Stellies’ attacking intent was evident from the moment play resumed, and Omega Mdaka nearly levelled matters shortly after the restart.
The left back made a marauding run into the opposition box and fired a powerful strike at goal, but his effort bent narrowly wide into the side netting.
From the very next passage of play, Sundowns thought they had doubled their lead when Tashreeq Matthews found the back of the net, only to see his goal contentiously ruled out for offside.
A fortunate reprieve for Stellies, who made the most of it with just five minutes left in the match when Chumani Butsaka drew a foul in the box to win his side a penalty.
Tshegofatso Mabasa, on just a few minutes before as a substitute, stepped up from the spot, and despite seeing his strike saved by Ronwen Williams, was the
fastest to tap home the rebound to level the scores.
Not satisfied with one, Mabasa might have thought he’d dramatically won the game in the 94th minute when he found the back of the net again, only for him too to fall victim to the linesman’s flag.
That proved to be the last kick of the match as ultimately, there could be no winner, as both sides left with a share of the spoils.