Nascimento sees red as Downs are held
Gritty Highlands repel the champs
at Loftus Versfeld
Mamelodi Sundowns and Highlands Park both took some positives from their goalless draw here last night.
As the score would suggest, it wasn’t the greatest of games to watch with few chances from both ends. Sundowns, however, extended their unbeaten run to 16 games in the Absa Premiership matches. The last time they lost a league match was 3-1 to Orlando Pirates in their own backyard in January.
The Lions of the North not only walked away with a point, but it’s a big improvement from the last time they were here two seasons when they went down 5-0.
It’s early days in the top flight, but Owen Da Gama’s men would be encouraged.
Usually dominant on their home turf, Sundowns were expected to win and they threatened early on with striker Jeremy Brockie having a penalty shout inside the first minute but referee Phelelani Ndaba waved played on.
Starting alongside Jose Ali Meza, who was in the starting XI for the first time, Sundowns were expected to keep the visitors’ goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini busy, but his defence stood firm.
If you ever needed confirmation that it wasn’t going to be Sundowns’s night, centreback Ricardo Nascimento was given his marching orders early in the second half after a verbal outburst when a free kick was awarded against Sundowns. The Brazilian was initially given a yellow card, but Ndaba brandished a second yellow.
In trying to deal with the setback, Sundowns mentor Pitso Mosimane introduced Motjeka Madisha for Brockie.
Despite playing with ten men Sundowns continued to be dominant side and probably their best chance came in the 73rd when Wayne Arendse’s header appeared to be going in, but Junior Sibande cleared off the line.
Sundowns now turn their focus to the MTN8 semifinal first leg clash against Cape Town City in the Mother City on Saturday.