Sundowns keep nine-point lead despite draw with Pirates

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Mamelodi Sundowns retained a nine-point lead in the South African Premiership this weekend despite drawing 1-1 at home to fifth-placed Orlando Pirates in a tense showdown.After 11 straight victories since the season kicked off, Sundowns have drawn their last three league matches as they seek a seventh consecutive title and 14th overall.Pirates were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Miguel Timm was yellow carded for a second time before a sell-out 45,000 crowd in Pretoria.

Sundowns used the numerical advantage to apply pressure and Chilean Marco Allende scored with a deflected shot on 74 minutes.

The lead lasted just four minutes, however, before Moroccan Abdelmounaim Boutouil fouled Tapelo Xoki, who converted the resultant penalty.

Sundowns rested eight of their 10 players who were in the South Africa squad that last weekend finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast.

Of the five Pirates stars in the AFCON squad, only two started as the Soweto outfit ended a run of seven straight league defeats by Sundowns.

The clubs occupying the next five positions below Sundowns — Cape Town City, SuperSport United, Stellenbosch, Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs — all drew.

Seventh-placed Polokwane City bucked the trend by winning 1-0 at Moroka Swallows while Golden Arrows dropped out of the top half after a 3-1 loss away to TS Galaxy.

Bottom club Cape Town Spurs beat visiting AmaZulu 3-1 thanks to a second-half brace from substitute Ashley Cupido, but are six points beneath fellow strugglers Richards Bay.

 

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Twitter @NotibolDeportes

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Dylan Johnson