Downs share spoils in six-goal thriller

● PSL champions almost bite the dust in Durban against AmaZulu

AmaZulu and premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller that was a great advert for South African football at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Sunday.

The two sides played to a 33 draw in a highly entertaining Absa premiership encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats for the full 90 minutes. AmaZulu took the lead as early as the fifth minute when Butholezwe Ncube netted.

Sundowns found it difficult to get going inside the first quarter of an hour, but were brought back into the game by debutant Phakamani Mahlambi a minute before halftime after the ball rebounded off AmaZulu goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.

Sundowns doubled their lead in the 45th minute when Bissau-Guinean forward Tony Silva played a one-two with Hlompho Kekana to beat Josephs and give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

But Amazulu came storming back when Jabulani Ncomeni equalised for the hosts in the 73rd minute.

Usuthu then took control of proceedings through Bonginkosi Ntuli, who burst into the box and fired past Reyaad Pieterse to make it 3-2.

Sundowns continued to search for the equaliser and it was Sibusiso Vilakazi who found the back of the net with five minutes remaining after getting to the end of a cross from Tebogo Langerman at the near post.

Meanwhile, Highlands Park registered their first win of the season after a 2-1 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows that took them into the top half on the log standings.

The Lions of the North scored through Mothobi Mvala, from the penalty spot in the 24 minute before Danny Venter equalised for the visitors with a soft low free-kick.

Highlands regained the lead 10 minutes before the halftime break, when Mvala grabbed his brace with a clinical poke into the net.

Bloemfontein Celtic beat Black Leopards 1-0 in their clash on Sunday in Thohoyandou through Tshegofatso Mabasa as the visitors extended their unbeaten start to the season to five games.

A fourth win in five moves the Free State club level on 13 points with log-leaders Bidvest Wits.

Siwelele had hit the front as early as the 10th minute following a frantic start to the clash but Celtic hung on to their lead. – TimesLIVE, SuperSport.com