Sundowns stutter against Dikwena

Cape Town -  Mamelodi Sundowns drew 2-2 against Platinum Stars in the Absa Premiership on Thursday evening at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

In the wake of the draw, the defending champions move to the top spot with 51 points from 26 matches.

On the other hand, Ndumiso Mabena netted twice to hand Stars the deserved point.

Sundowns dominated proceedings in the early stages of the tie and Dikwena were pushed to defend deep.

Thabo Nthethe broke the deadlock for the Brazilians in the sixth minute as he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area resulting from a corner.

Despite a fierce battle in the heart of the park, Mabena made it 1-1 after 15 minutes when he coolly finished in the box following a flick on from Bonginkosi Ntuli.

The 20th minute saw Stars nearly bagging their second goal from a set piece, but Gerald Phiri's effort sailed over the cross bar failing to trouble Sundowns keeper Denis Onyango.

After the 30th minute, a beautiful header by Anthony Laffor was easily collected by Dikwena keeper Mbongeni Mzimela.

It was 1-1 at the interval.

In the 53rd minute, Mabena sealed his brace when he beat Onyango on his near post following an error by the Tshwane side in the middle of the park, 2-1.

On the hour mark a scramble in the box saw Percy Tau and Yannick Zakri denied by Mzimela in the box.

However, the Cote d'Ivoirean forward made amends in the 63rd minute as he netted from close range to as he blasted his effort into the roof of the net, 2-2.

In search of their third goal, Percy Tau set Laffor through in the 66th minute, but he was denied by Mzimela one-on-one.

With 16 minutes remaining on the clock, Ntuli managed to break free behind the hosts defence on the right, but was denied by Onyango who saved comfortably.

With two minutes to go, Laffor failed again to hit the target as he was set up by Khama Billiat in the box - his shot went wide over the cross bar.

Dikwena were reduced to 10-men when Sphamandla Mlilo was shown his second yellow card in injury time, but both sides shared the spoils.

For Cavin Johnson's men, the draw means they occupy the 11th spot with 27 points from 26 matches.

Mamelodi Sundowns: 2 (Nthethe 6', Zakri 63')

Platinum Stars: 2 (Mabena 16', Mabena 53')

Teams:

Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Mashaba, Morena, Nthethe, Madisha, Zakri, Mohomi (Modise 77'), Billiat, Laffor, Kekana, Tau

Platinum Stars: Mzimela, Mwedihanga, Mlilo, Mpheta, De Jongh, Msomi, Mkhabela (Mathe 84'), Mere, Phiri (Ng'ambi 73'), Mabena, Ntuli (Madondo 90')