Bongani Zungu scored his first league goal for Mamelodi Sundowns in 10 years and Peter Shalulile netted his 12th this season, but the Tshwane giants c
Bongani Zungu scored his first league goal for Mamelodi Sundowns in 10 years and Peter Shalulile netted his 12th this season, but the Tshwane giants collapsed as AmaZulu wiped that off to see the game end 2-2 at Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday night.
But as comfortable as it was for Sundowns, it was nervy at the end after Usuthu pulled one back through Ramahlwe Mphahlele as the Durban club woke up late in a match again.
Usuthu smelt the blood in Sundowns’ territory and Junior Dion scored a blinding goal to level the match.
The draw doesn’t help Sundowns in equalling their chase to match 71 points, which they earned in the 2015/16 season under legendary coach Pitso Mosimane.
Sundowns moved to 66 points after 28 matches and need to win both remaining matches to break that record. If they win both, they will reach 72 points.
It was another demonstration of how good Sundowns has been this season in the first half and a bit of the second, having won the league with seven games to spare.
As times AmaZulu chased shadows here, with a lot carousel passing in the attacking areas with Themba Zwane at the heart of it.
Coach Rulani Mokwena gave players such as Rushine de Reuck, Mosa Lebusa, Terrence Mashego, Ntando Nkosi, Zungu and Lebohang Maboe a much needed game time.
The Tshwane giants now have a big fish to fry coming up, with a titanic clash against Wydad Casabalanca clash coming up in the CAF Champions League semi finals, leading to rejig the selection.
Despite the changes, Sundowns took control of the proceedings – penetrating wide and inside, trying to open AmaZulu up, who were very much compact.
Zwane was combining well with Gaston Sirino, but Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Abbubaker Mobara were in unforgiving mood, thwarting everything that was coming inside the box.
But it was an unlikely source that opened the scoring for Sundowns, midfielder Bongani Zungu. Rally Bwalwa was dispossessed and Sirino released Zungu on the side in the 26th minute, who beat Jody February, to score his first goal for Sundowns this season.
It was Zungu’s first league goal since scoring Ajax Cape Town City in September 2013, in what was his first season with Sundowns in his first stint.
Usuthu improved in the second half and Bwalya tried to lob over to the empty net but his shot was cleared off the line by the back pedalling De Reuck.
Sundowns came close to add the second in the 52nd minute through Zwane, but February had none of it, palming the ball away.
As the press continued by Sundowns, league top scorer Shalulile scored the second, blasting the ball at the far corner in the 58th minute with his left foot. It was yet another inter-passing that pulled AmaZulu apart.
But Mphahlele, former Sundowns captain, and Dion’s screamer saw the exciting game end in a draw
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