Polokwane City completed a league double over Mamelodi Sundowns after they came from a goal down to run out 3-2 victors in their Absa Premiership encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Pitso Mosimane’s side were dominant from the first whistle and took the lead as early as the second minute when George Lebese turned home Hlompho Kekana’s inviting ball into the area.
The visitors should have been about three up by the 15th minute which was largely aided by the City defence, who looked like they were still on holiday, however efforts from Oupa Manyisa, Themba Zwane and Tau were kept out by George Chigova.
Sloppy defending by City saw Tau go through on goal from Zwane’s through ball, but the forward’s effort was again well-saved by Chigova in the 18th minute.
City came close to equalising with a rare opportunity but Rodney Ramagalela’s shot was brilliantly kept out by Motjeka Madisha’s diving block.
The one-way traffic continued and Tau again proved wasteful when he missed from another one-on-one opportunity with Chigova beaten.
Thabiso Semenya got in behind the Sundowns defence on the stroke of half-time, but produced a defenders finish, when a pass would have proved a better option.
Sundowns went into the half-time break with their one-goal lead, but their lead should have been much more based on the opportunities they were handed.
Masandawana made two changes for the second half as Anthony Laffor and Siyanda Zwane replaced goalscorer Lebese and Anele Ngcongca rsepectively.
Rise and Shine equalised in the 58th minute when Sammy Seabi headed home Jabulani Maluleka’s enticing freekick into the area.
Sundowns would rue their missed chances as seconds later they went behind after Oupa Manyisa’s dreadful backpass gave Walter Musona the easiest of tap-ins.
Manyisa made up for his early error when he latched onto Tau’s brilliant through ball to level matters for his side in the 65th minute.
Sensing that Sundowns had upped their tempo, the home side looked to shut up shop, however PSL top goalscorer Ramagalela had other intentions as he fired home against his former team in the 80th minute after a delightful pass by Maluleka.
Unable to get an equaliser, Sundowns were condemned to their fifth defeat of the campaign, but more crucially, they failed to consolidate and extend their lead at the top of the table.
Photo: Gallo Images
-This story originally appeared on SportsClub.co.za
