Mamelodi Sundowns were forced to share the spoils with Marumo Gallants after they played out to a 1-1 draw in the DStv Premiership at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Thursday evening.

Sundowns got off to a bright start and produced the first chance of the game after two minutes when Andile Jali played a through ball into the path of Aubrey Modiba, who saw his effort saved before Modiba had another shot saved six minutes later by King Ndlovu.

Ricardo Goss came to his sides rescue in the 15th minute when he was alert to the danger to deny Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s low shot at goal.

The Brazilians had numerous chances to take the lead before the half-hour mark but they were unable to convert the chances created.

Gallants were then awarded a penalty in the 31st minute for a handball in the box. Ndlondl stepped up and made no mistake to slot home the spot-kick and make it 1-0.

Sundowns responded almost immediately when Lesedi Kapinga restored parity with a powerful strike to find the back of the net four minutes later as the game went into the half-time break level at 1-1.

The home side came out the better side in the second half and came close to taking the lead from a Kapinga long-range free-kick but Ndlovu did well to make the save.

Ndlondlo had a chance to complete his brace in the 68th minute with a shot from outside the box but the Sundowns shot-stopper made a fine save to deny the goalscorers effort.

Sundowns made their first substitution in the 71st minute as Lyle Lakay was taken off and replaced by Gift Motupa, who immediately got into action with a first time effort that sailed wide of goal before they made a double substitution by replacing Kapinga and Mkhulise with Neo Maema and George Maluleka.

The Brazilians made two final substitutions in the final minutes of the game in the hope of finding the winning goal as Sifiso Ngobeni and Sibusiso Vilakazi came on for Modiba and Jali but it wasn’t enough as both sides shared the spoils at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.