Maritzburg United denied Mamelodi Sundowns a record tally of points to give themselves a lifeline by holding the reigning 2022/23 DStv Premiership champions to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday night.
A key goal was scored by Ali Meza, who slotted into the empty net after Sundowns’ defence was cut apart later in the second half, giving themselves hopes of surviving.
Meza equalized after Surprise Ralani clipped the ball over Renaldo Leaner in the first half. This draw has seen Maritzburg moved to 14th on the log table on 30 points, drawing down Marumo Gallants and Chippa United, with the latter holding the basement.
However, those two will play their games on Saturday.
Maritzburg were up against it as they have not defeated Sundowns away since the 2012/13 season.
Knowing all this, it must have been tough for coach Fadlu Davids to motivate his players, as Sundowns were also chasing the league record of 72 points, looking to surpass the 71 they accumulated in the 2015/16 season.
The Team of Choice were also looking for another great escape just like they had in the 2015/16 season when they won the last two games of the campaign to survive.
Sundowns came into this game knowing have a bigger task this coming weekend against Wydad Athletic Club, who they host in the second leg of the CAF Champions League on Saturday, the day the league curtain will come down.
That forced coach Rulani Mokwena to put out a much-changed side, even leaving out joint-top scorer Peter Shalulile, making sure the big match on Saturday takes the front-row seat.
Because of the difficulties that Maritzburg was under, they were not committing to challenges, keeping it tight and nice, ensuring spaces were not open.
Sadly when they had the ball, there were no numbers upfront, with Sundowns quickly winning balls back as they were trying to build.
However, Amadou Soukouna had two chances in quick succession, with Denis Onyango making a save and the other rounding Ugandan off but Mosa Lebusa cleared a goal bound shot off the line.
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Then Karim Kimvuidi had an unlucky slip and Ralani brilliantly combined with Maema, who back-heeled the ball back to him before the former Cape Town City attacker stroked it past Leaner in the 24th minute.
Mogamad de Goede was unlucky to see his header tipped away by Onyango into the crossbar in the second half and Bonginkosi Makume missing the follow-up with the goal yawning.
Leaner kept Maritzburg in the game, denying Gaston Sirino in one-v-one in the 58th minute, after Uruguayan robbed Travis Graham before he was clean on goal.
Maritzburg grew into the game and Rowan Human had a sight on goal, but blasted it wide. It was left to Meza to bring hope to Maritzburg, slotting the ball into the empty net after Sundowns’ defence was pulled apart following the darting run by Human, before supplying Tumelo Njoti, whose cross found an unmarked Meza.
