Aces and Sundowns share the spoils
Sundowns thought they had scored the winner after Bongani Zungu slotted the ball past Aces' Jackson Mabokgwane. At first the goal stood, but after remonstration by Aces' players the referee, Thabo Nkosi, reversed his original decision.
Controversy surrounded the Mbombela Stadium like a dark cloud after a goal was disallowed in stoppage time in an Absa Premiership match between Mpumalanga Black Aces and Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday evening. The match ultimately ended 1-1.
Sundowns thought they had scored the winner after Bongani Zungu slotted the ball past Aces’ Jackson Mabokgwane. At first the goal stood, but after remonstration by Aces’ players the referee, Thabo Nkosi, reversed his original decision.
The away team’s coach, Pitso Mosimane, was irate when the final whistle sounded and continued arguing with the assistant referees. This after he and his coaching staff had been jumping up and down with delight just seconds earlier. Both Aces and Sundowns fans relived a number of contrasting emotions during the course of the tight battle with Aces fans clearly leaving the stadium the happier of the two.
Mamelodi Sundowns can kick themselves for not converting a number of chances in the first and especially the second half which they dominated in terms of possession. Khama Billiat missed the target by inches after a majestic solo run that left the Aces defence dumbfounded.
Aces had the best chance to open the scoring in the first half after they were awarded a penalty when Tshediso Tukane went down in the box. Dino Ndlovu stepped up but his spot kick was brilliantly saved by the outstretched Dennis Onyango, in the Sundowns goal.
Minutes later, Sundowns were also awarded a penalty after Hlompho Kekana was fouled in the penalty area. Teko Modise stepped up and placed his kick past Mabokganye to give the Brazilians the lead. The travelling fans went wild with celebration but this only lasted two minutes. Aces’ midfielder, Onyekachi Onkonkwo got hold of a lose ball and fired it into the net to bring Aces back into the match. This topsy-turvy encounter ended at 1-1 after the end of the first half.
Sundowns showed more attacking intent at the start of the second stanza but could not break down Aces’ defence which stood firm with Lehlohonolo Nonyane and Vincent Kobola putting in some important tackles.
Downs’ Teko Modise was a constant threat in the second half and set up a number of chances for his teammates only to see them wasted in the final third of the pitch. In the end both teams had to settle for a draw amid the aforementioned consternation.
Sundowns are now lagging further behind league leaders Kaizer Chiefs with six points separating the two. Aces are in 12th place on the table and will be aiming to end the season with as many points as possible to contend for a possible top-eight finish.
These two sides will now meet again in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final on Sunday at the same venue in a repeat encounter. The match will kick off at 15:00.
Who knows what will happen!
