DEADLOCK: Siyabonga Ngubane of Mamelodi Sundowns is challenged by Matthew Rusike of Jomo Cosmos. photo: BackpagePixJomo Cosmos (0) 0
MAMELODI Sundowns squandered an opportunity to keep up the pace against other Absa Premiership title contenders with a goalless draw against Jomo Cosmos yesterday.
These are the games the current log leaders will remember when they face tougher battles against Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Supersport United in the second half of the season.
After 17 premiership encounters, Sundowns are top of the table with 35 points, three ahead of SuperSport and Chiefs.
Perhaps Sundowns would have preferred to get the full points against Cosmos instead of fancying their chances on Friday when they take on Moroka Swallows, who were beaten 3-0 by Chiefs on Saturday evening.
Cosmos on the other hand, will feel they did enough to hold on to a draw and stay above bottom-placed Black Leopards at this point. Leopards have 10 points, while Cosmos have one more.
Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens had no intention of fixing what wasn't broken, making only one forced change by bringing on Jabulani Shongwe for the suspended Punch Masenamela at left back.
Sundowns used wingers Lebohang Mokoena and Elias Pelembe to try break through the solid Cosmos defence but hit a wall in the opening minutes of the clash. When they did find the space and caught Ezenkosi napping, goalkeeper and man-of-the-match Avril Phali denied Sundowns grabbing the lead. In the 17th minute, Themba Zwane broke free on the right wing to whip in a cross in the Cosmos box.
However, Gladwin Shitolo acrobatically cleared the ball before striker Katlego Mphela could get to it. The scorching heat also made it difficult for the game to flow. Cosmos hardly had a shot at goal until the 35th minute when Matthew Rusike's tame shot didn't trouble Wayne Sandilands and the keeper made an easy save. Before that came the best two moments of the first half. Phali, who had been outstanding for Cosmos for the better part of the match, was again involved when he produced two brilliant saves a minute apart.
In the 42nd minute, Mphela set up the on-rushing Mokoena - and with the crowd convinced the latter's attempt had found the back of the net - Phali pulled out all the stops to push it out for a corner kick. Hardly a minute later, Zwane also popped up outside the box and tried to trick Phali with a curling shot, but the former Bafana keeper again denied Sundowns.
In another Premiership game yesterday, Ajax Cape Town beat Maritzburg United 2-0 after a goalless first half.
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Cubanito
viva jomo viva cosmos......suwdowns now will learn not to open its mouth widely like juju.....hehe jomo will go back empty handed noo!!with 1 point it is enough!!!Report Abuse
Mail4life
In IsiZulu there is a saying that says "Inceba lendoda alihlekwa" Last wednesday the mighy Amakhosi draw against Cosmos every one opened their big mouths on hw chiefs lack Quaility and now who says wat Sunflops 0-0 Ezenkosi. Any comments from the haters, By the way did you Masango and Majoro destroying Izinyoni zakwa Dube ? Rise Khosi RiseReport Abuse
Mhungumbye
1 Point is better than nothing.Report Abuse
PHUMA_LANGA_SIKOTHE
Ezenkosi Yaaaaaaaaaaami...stop writing the obituary haters !
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MrPresident
Well done to Avril Phali, well played Downs, continue like this and you'll be no 2 again come end of the season...Jomo please start scoring if you want to avoid relegation zone
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Fizas
if Jomo Cosmos played the way they did yesterday they would have beat K.C....downs played well but Phali was at his best.KBY!!!
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Gusheshe
Cosmos keeper stood between Sundowns win bt all is not lost will bounce back at the expense of SwallowsKa bo yellow ka bo yellow
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KWENISTO
These "ka bo yellow fans" were also making noise before the game. They won the game before it started. They are behaving like Chibuku FC fans. Welldone ezenkosi, ur next victims are @ OLD AGE HOMEReport Abuse
Stayaway
@GushesheCosmos keeper stood between Sundowns win bt all is not lost will bounce back at the expense of Swallows
Ka bo yellow ka bo yellow
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Like I said before Sundowns will choke Chiefs, Pirates, Swallows, Maritzburg United, Platinum Stars are waiting
Your team is good at holding the umbrella big time
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OPZAZA
WE ALL KNOW CHIEFS FANS, ALWAYS MAKING NOISE, ESPECIALLY AFTER GETTING A WIN NYANA, EISH SWALLOWS E RE BAKETSE, HOWEVER, WHAT I KNOW IS THAT GE E LE LEAGUE YONA LE TLA E BONA TSATSI LE SUNDOWNS E YANG RELEGATION-ENG.KA BO YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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