Absa Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Polokwane City
Date: 28 October 2015
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns missed the chance to move top of the Absa Premiership, after they were left frustrated by Polokwane City on Tuesday evening.
The home side nearly went ahead inside the opening minute but George Chigova pulled off a fine save to keep out Khama Billiat's attempted lob.
Leonardo Castro proved to be a tricky customer for the Polokwane defence, as he headed just wide of the upright in the 10th minute, after being picked out by Dolly from the left.
Rise and Shine went close with a chance of their own in the 16th minute, as Thobani Mncwango's glancing header sailed into the side-netting.
Wayne Sandilands came to Sundowns' rescue in the 19th minute, as he pulled off a superb save to keep out Mncwango's curling effort from the edge of the area.
Polokwane grew stronger as the half went on and started creating more chances and they went close in the 29th minute when Sibusiso Mbonani's header was saved by Sandilands on the line.
Sundowns squandered a chance to break the deadlock five minutes before the halftime break when Ngele could only fire straight at Chigova from six-yards out.
Chigova frustrated Sundowns yet again on the stroke of halftime, as the Polokwane shot-stopper showed great reflexes to keep out Bongani Zungu's glancing header.
The Brazilians dictated play for most of the second half but they were left frustrated by Chigova in the 60th minute, as he did well to keep out Hlompho Kekana's stinging free-kick.
Pitso Mosimane made his intentions clear to get the all important goal, as he introduced the likes of Anthony Laffor and Katlego Mashego to bolster the Sundowns attack.
Mashego was presented with a chance to hand Sundowns the lead in the 82nd minute but he blazed over the crossbar from inside the area, after being teed up by Zungu.
The Brazilians threw everything forward in the final stages of the game but could not bypass a stubborn Polokwane defence and an inspired Chigova, who denied Mashego in stoppage time.
The draw sees Mosimane's charges move up one spot into fifth, while Rise and Shine move up to 12th.
Here's how they started:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Sandilands, Mashaba, Nthethe, Mphahlele, Arendse, Dolly, Zungu, Ngele, Kekana, Castro, Billiat
Polokwane City: Chigova, Phungwayo, Masenamela, Mbonani, Tema, Nene, Bogere, Maluleke, Alexander, Mncwango, Tlolane
