Second placed Mamelodi Sundowns fluffed a golden opportunity to move to the top of the ABSA Premiership log on Tuesday.
The Brazilians who needed to win by two clear goals, played to a 1-all draw against Polokwane City in Pretoria.
Sundowns still have two matches in hand and trail log leaders Bidvest Wits by two points.
Mamelodi Sundowns were the overwhelming favourites going into this encounter against a side that lost two matches in a row before Tuesday night.
Sundowns do not have a good track record at home against Polokwane City, a side they haven’t beaten in almost four years in Pretoria.
The Pretoria-based team who is also in the CAF Champions League group stages, are faced with a hectic fixture programme, that also involves a lot of travelling.
However, this time they had sufficient time to prepare for the match against Polokwane after facing Asec Mimosa in Abidjan last Tuesday.
The home-side had the perfect start when Themba Zwane scored in the 10th minute after connecting with a perfect pass from Guston Sirino.
Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana wasted a golden opportunity to double his side’s lead from inside the box three minutes later.
The Brazilians were the better side in the opening half but failed to capitalise.
Polokwane City scored the equaliser on the stroke of half-time, after a rare goalkeeping blunder by Ugandan Dennis Onyanga – the reigning number one goalkeeper in Africa.
Sundowns pushed forward for maximum points in the second half, but found City’s keeper George Chigova in an uncompromising mood.
“You can’t be happy with a point at home to be honest, and you can’t be unhappy with the boys they tried. Maybe the goalkeeper is the man of the match I suppose and it tells you the story you know so many balls saved off the line. We did our best but sometimes you got to accept yeah, a point sometimes is not good but what can you do. We take a point and move on you know it’s not yet decided its okay” says Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Pitso Mosimane.
Sundowns’ next match is a tough encounter away from home against log leaders Bidvest Wits on Saturday evening, with eighth placed Polokwane City hosting Kaizer Chiefs also on Saturday.
