Tashreeq Matthews rescued Mamelodi Sundowns, scoring an equaliser late in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw with Cardiff City on Tuesday afternoon.
For the first 20 minutes, Bafana Ba Style enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to translate that dominance into clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Thapelo Maseko squandered a golden opportunity to put Masandawana ahead. He failed to connect with a cut back pass from Khuliso Mudau in the box.
Cardiff seemed to be finding themselves in the game after the half-hour mark as they kept pushing up with forward movements. Jody February made a couple of saves to keep the score at 0-0.
The match went to halftime with a goalless scoreline on the scoreboard.
The EFL Championship side, Cardiff returned stronger and took the lead early in the second stanza via Joel Colwill.
In the 58th minute, Alnwick made a magnificent save to deny Neo Maela’s curling shot from distance as Sundowns kept on knocking, seeking an equaliser.
Their persistence finally paid off when Tashreeq Matthews levelled the score in the 75th minute.
Arthur de Oliveira Sales, who recently signed for the Brazilians, was among the players who got minutes in the match.
Sundowns starting line-up: February, Mudau, Lebusa, Kekana, Coetzee, Mokoena, Allende, Modiba, Maseko, Ribeiro, Shalulile
Subs: Pieterse, Tshabalala, Mvala, De Reuck, Khoza, Mdunyelwa, Mashego, Aubass, Mkhulise, Esquivel, Maboe, Nkosi, Zwane, Letlhaku, Kodisang, Mabena, Matthews, Morena, Nku, Sales, Maema
Cardiff City starting line-up: Alnwick, L. Colwill, Fagan-Walcott, Mcguiness, Bagan, Rinomhota, Turnbull, R. Colwill, Ashford, Robinson, Atete
Subs: Hovarth, Goutas, Collins, Kpakio, King, Siopis, Conte, Tanner, Davies
SUNDOWNS UPCOMING PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
- Friday, 26 July – 11:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Arabi SC
- Friday, 26 July – 16:00 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Hilal
PREVIOUS RESULTS
- Mamelodi Sundowns 1-2 SV Saundhausen
- Mamelodi Sundowns 0-1 Dynamo Kyiv
