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Sundowns, AmaZulu draw

Atteridgeville - Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a goalless draw by AmaZulu in their first match of the season at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
It was a frustrating match for Sundowns as their star-studded midfield was not allowed to string passes together.
 
AmaZulu, on the other hand, were content with sitting at the back and managed to threaten Sundowns with a few quick breaks, but coach Manqoba Mngqithi will be pleased at how his young charges contained the Brazilians.
 
Sundowns took control of the match from the first whistle, sharing the ball well in the midfield, but they were not allowed to create much clear-cut opportunities by the organised Usuthu defence.
 
The first chance fell for Mabhuti Khenyeza who found himself with space on the left side of the field but his shot went wide in the eighth minute.
 
Carlington Nyadombo was the first player to go into the referee’s book in the 22nd minute when he received a yellow card for a clumsy double-footed tackle on Katlego Mphela just outside the box.
 
Mphela stepped up to take the kick and his attempt was on target but it went straight into Tapuwa Kapini’s hands.
 
Sundowns continued to press forward, using their wingbacks to add more numbers and it almost paid off in the 26th minute when Doctor Mampuru went on a dazzling run which was stopped illegally by Ramson Zhuwawo on the edge of the box.
 
Modise’s attempt from the free-kick was poor as his tame shot failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
 
Usuthu almost took the lead against the run of play when Andile Khumalo fired a long range shot but Sundowns goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands pulled off a one-handed save to tip the ball over for a corner.
 
The resulting corner almost produced a goal but Sandilands was alert enough to block Sibusiso Hadebe’s header, the ball bounced around the box a few times before the captain Method Mwanjali cleared the danger.
 
Teko Modise, who had a quiet first half by his standards, tried to make an impression in the 31st minute but his shot was saved by a well-positioned Kapini.
 
AmaZulu almost delivered a perfect sucker punch when Namibian striker Tangeni Shipahu latched onto a brilliant long pass from Hadebe, but his shot struck the upright with Wayne Sandilands well-beaten.
 
Sundowns seemed to lose their tempo after the break as they failed to create scoring opportunities, which they tried to rectify by bringing in Zimbabwean Nyasha Mushekwi for Mabhuti Khenyeza, who spent most of his time on the left wing instead of in the box.
 
Usuthu continued to grow in confidence and Dumisani Zwane should’ve opened the scoring in the 70th minute when he attacked the box from the right, he took a powerful shot that struck Sandilands in the face when a deft chip would’ve been the better option.
 
Mushekwi’s first chance came in the 76th minute but his looped header sailed past the top corner.
 
With AmaZulu keeping all players behind the ball, it was very difficult for Sundowns to feed Bafana Bafana star Katlego Mphela and Mushekwi, and in the end a goalless draw was a fair result.
 
Scores:

Sundowns 0 (0)
Amazulu 0 (0)
 
Teams:

Sundowns: Sandilands - Masenamela, Xulu, Mwanjali, Mampuru - Pelembe, Modise, Nyatama, Moriri – Khenyeza (Mushekwi 63’), Mphela
 
Amazulu: Kapini - Mayongo, Teyise, Nyadombo, Chavula – Zwane (Mokoro), Khumalo (Thompson 83’), Zhuwawo, Hadebe – Dlamini (Nxumalo 62’), Shipahu
 
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