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'Downs miss out on top eight

Atteridgeville - Mamelodi Sundowns missed out on a top eight finish in the Premiership after they were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Wits at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

Needing a victory to guarantee their status among the all-important top half of the league, Sundowns were left frustrated by Wits, who secured the fourth spot.

A quiet opening period was sparked into life when Richard Henyekane broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, before Wits equalised two minutes later through Ryan Chapman.

A minute later, Bryce Moon stole the lead for the visitors, leaving Sundowns perplexed by the quick-fire double strike from the Clever Boys before the interval.

Sundowns applied the early pressure but failed to find their passes in opening minutes of the encounter, despite Teko Modise and Thamsanqa Sangweni attempting shots from distance.

After pushing one effort wide, Wits skipper Sibusiso Vilakazi was given another chance when Moon passed a centred ball into the area. A retreating Ramahlwe Mphahlele was enough to put Vilakazi off before he could get his shot away.

With the half-time interval beckoning, Henyekane was put through on goal by Elias Pelembe, before slotting past goalkeeper Tyrone Damons.

The goal seemed to ignite the Wits attack and the University outfit cancelled Henyekane's opener just two minutes later, when some poor defending allowed Chapman to guide the ball into the back of the net.

Still reeling from the equaliser, Sundowns were hit by yet another lapse at the back, which allowed Moon to steal the lead in the last minute of the opening half, after a goalmouth scramble left Sundowns keeper Wayne Sandilands stranded by his defence.

The Brazilians were handed a lifeline early in the second half when Siboniso Gumede, already on a yellow card, received his marching orders by the referee for a second bookable offence.

From the subsequent free-kick, Schut rose above his markers and nodded his header goalwards, as the ball snuck under the crossbar and in for the equaliser.

With a man down, Wits struggled to keep up with Sundowns in the latter stages of the half, as second half replacement Katlego Mphela went close.

Wits remained resilient and saw out a nervy end to the game, holding on for the valuable point, while Sundowns would have to settle for a bottom half finish to the season.

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