Sundowns deny ref’s best efforts

● Motjeka Madisha scored a last-minute equaliser as Mamelodi Sundowns survived a refereeing howler to draw 2-2 at Angolan side Petro Atletico in their Caf Champions League Group C clash in Luanda yesterday.

Gaston Sirino put the visitors ahead with a penalty in the first half but the hosts equalised after being gifted a spot-kick of their own via an atrocious piece of refereeing, before then grabbing another with 20 minutes remaining.

But Sundowns had the last laugh, Madisha powering home a header in injury time to keep an unbeaten record in the pool.

Sundowns, who have already qualified for the quarterfinals, will finish in first place if they avoid defeat to their nemesis, Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium next Saturday.

The home side should have been ahead inside six minutes when Sundowns keeper Dennis Onyango fumbled a routine catch from a header by Danilson, the ball slipping up onto the crossbar and the Petro player unable to turn in the rebound.

Missed his shot

Petro threatened again as Onyango pushed a low cross into the path of Jacques Tuyisenge, but the Rwandan forward missed his shot with the goal gaping.

Sundowns then won a penalty midway through the first half as Danilson handled the ball in the box and Sirino calmly slotted into the top corner. But referee Mahamadou Kéïta of Mali evened the score when he awarded a dubious penalty to the home side before the break, alleging that Anele Ngcongca had handled in the box when the ball clearly hit him in the stomach.

Job equalised for the hosts.

Onyango had to make a smart save to deny Job when space opened for the Angolan forward in the box early in the second period, before the Ugandan gloveman left the field to be replaced by Kennedy Mweene.

But the home side did grab the lead on 72 minutes as Tuyisenge turned the ball into the net, before Madisha denied them victory with a fine finish.