Sundowns' 15-win run ends after conceding late equaliser
A run of 15 consecutive South African Premiership victories by runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns ended on Sunday when they drew 1-1 at mid-table Stellenbosch.
The Pretoria outfit looked set to extend a winning streak that began last September when substitute Cassius Mailula scored on 77 minutes in the rain-soaked southwestern winelands town.
But Iqraam Rayners converted a penalty three minutes from time to salvage a point for the home team after a lively match that could have been won by either side.
Two months ago Sundowns bettered the 11 league wins record they set in the 2006-2007 season, and the draw in Stellenbosch should only delay their coronations as champions for a sixth straight time.
Even if second-placed SuperSport United win their remaining eight matches, Sundowns will finish first by securing eight points from eight fixtures.
"We want to win every match, but it is not possible," said Sundowns' 36-year-old coach Rhulani Mokwena, who never played top-flight football.
"Conceding a late equaliser will actually do us a lot of good. The team had become so used to winning in the Premiership that we had forgotten what it is like to battle for a point."
Sundowns are chasing a treble this season -- the Premiership, the South African FA Cup and the CAF Champions League.
They reached the FA Cup quarter-finals three days ago by beating Marumo Gallants 3-1 in a repeat of the 2022 final, with Namibian Peter Shalulile scoring a hat-trick.
But the prize Sundowns most desire is the Champions League, the premier African club competition which they won in 2016.
The South Africans have home advantage over record 10-time African champions Al Ahly of Egypt in Group B this Saturday and a victory will guarantee them a quarter-finals place.
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