ISHMAEL MOHLABE
AmaTuks managed to hold Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounter at Loftus Versfeld Stadium last Wednesday. On-form AmaTuks striker Bongani Zungu cancelled out Sundowns striker Richard Henyekane’s opening goal. Both goals were scored in the second half.
Steve Barker’s team was confident going into the match after a 3-1 triumph against AmaZulu at Tuks Stadium on 6 April. Sundowns had suffered a Nedbank Cup quarter-final defeat to Platinum Stars at Loftus three days before the match.
The opening five minutes of the PSL Tshwane derby saw both teams displaying exciting football, although neither team was able to produce shots on target early in the match. Sundowns dominated ball possession, especially in the midfield.
Mame Niang nearly scored an early goal for AmaTuks when his header from the edge of the 18-yard box sailed just inches from the far post following a cross from Vincent Kobola in the 20th minute. On the 33-minute mark, Aubrey Ngoma failed to make the most of a Sundowns defensive error as his effort from the box landed in Wayne Sandilands’s hands.
The best chance for Sundowns came on the half-hour mark when Edward Manqele blasted a shot which Arubi saved. Wayne Arendse had his goal disallowed after he scored from an offside position.
The second half was characterised by missed chances from both teams. A well-worked cross into the box by Manqele met the boot of the advancing Henyekane, who put Sundowns in front in the 51st minute.
Two minutes after gaining the lead, Arendse’s headed cross into the box saw Hlompho Kekana producing a spectacular bicycle kick. Arubi reacted well to save the shot in order to deny Pitso Mosimane’s team a second goal.
AmaTuks were attacking and Sandilands was the busier of the two goalkeepers for at least 20 minutes. In the 60th minute, Siyabonga Shoyisa fed Niang with a cross that was saved by Sandilands.
Two minutes later, Ngoma’s delivery from the left flank had Jabulani Shongwe making a sloppy clearance which ended up close to a well-positioned Zungu. Zungu fired the ball into the net from 25 yards to level the score. Ngoma had his chip at goal from the edge of the box punched over the cross-bar by Sandilands after a Zungu cross in the 76th minute.Zungu beat two defenders to supply Niang with a cross in the final seconds of the game, but Niang’s mild shot sailed comfortably into Sandilands’s hands.
With just five games of the 2012/2013 PSL season remaining, AmaTuks are sitting on eighth position with 32 points, while Sundowns occupy position eleven with 28 points.
Photo: Kobus Barnard
