Mamelodi Sundowns score late to deny Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs met Mamelodi Sundowns in the first-leg of the MTN 8 semi-final at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The AmaKhosi seemed to have got their season back on track after back-to-back victories over AmaZulu and Stellenbosch in the Premier Soccer League.

After the first half ended goalless, Molefi Ntseki's side opened the scoring in the 61st minute and were looking home and dry to get the win, but Khuliso Mudau scored late in added time to draw level for Mamelodi Sundowns and peg the score at 1-1 ahead of the return leg.

90 + 6’| #KC 1 : 1 #MS

Full-time score: (Castillo 61’) Kaizer Chiefs 1 : 1 Mamelodi Sundowns (Mudau 90 + 3’)

MTN8 Man of the Match: Edson Castillo#Amakhosi4Life #MTN8 #Khosified pic.twitter.com/wYb7sLoZ6Z

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) September 2, 2023

Here is how the match unfolded!

Level at halftime

Kaizer Chiefs tweaked their defense a little from their last match setup, bringing in Sifiso Hlanti for Frosler, while Sundowns included Khulliso Mudau into the starting eleven after overcoming his injury and Boutouil after serving his suspension.

Kaizer Chiefs vs Mamelodi Sundowns — Credit: Icon Sport

Masandawana enjoyed a dominant start to proceedings after kick-off and could have gone ahead after a clever dink outside the area from in-form Lucas Ribeiro but he couldn't beat Brandon Petersen in goal.

The homeside didn't do much in most of the half but instead overloaded the middle of the park with a game plan to catch Rulani Mokwena's side on the counter.

While the game had little to offer in the first period, Sundowns were forced to make a substitution ten minutes before halftime as Themba Zwane was stretchered off after receiving a bad knuck from Yusuf Maart, and Lesiba Nku came on for him.

It ended goalless in the first half.

Nothing to separate the teams at full-time

Mamelodi Sundowns created the first good opportunity of the second but Modiba just couldn't get his footing right as the ball sailed wide from his shot.

Sundowns continued to dominate play and searched to score the first goal, but in an interesting turn of events against the run of play, Kaizer Chiefs scored!

Edson Castillo made a late run after Du Preez played in the delivery and got the better of Coetzee to net the opening goal in the 61st minute.

Disappointed that Chiefs scored from their only shot on target yet, Sundowns' attacked immediately to try and draw level with Ribeiro forcing a decent save from Petersen.

In the 77th minute, Masandawana made changes to inject more urgency in their fight towards drawing level with Coetzee, Boutouil and Modiba hooked off for Aubaas, Mabena and Mashego.

Those changes brought more steam into the Sundowns quest to restore parity but the goal never came until added time!

Mamelodi Sundowns relentlessly chased for an equalizer and duly got rewarded!

Mendieta whipped in a fantastic cross and Mudau timed his run well to get his head on the ball and headed beyond Peterson to draw level in the third minute of added time!

The tie will now be decided in the second leg which comes up at the home turf of Mamelodi Sundowns.