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Sundowns fail to cut Chiefs lead after draw with 10-man Wits

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Mamelodi Sundowns missed the chance to close in on Kaizer Chiefs at the top of the Absa Premiership log after a 0-0 draw with a 10-man Bidvest Wits side at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday evening.

Sundowns came into the game sitting in second place just four points behind log-leaders Kaizer Chiefs, with opponents Wits a further five points behind them in third place.

Both sides would have been looking to claim a big three points in the title race and further cut down Chiefs’ lead.

Clashes between these two sides are generally tight affairs. Again, this was the case in the opening exchanges where both sides looked to give nothing away while trying to stamp their mark on the game.

The first big chance fell the way of the defending Absa Premiership champions as a cross was swung into the box towards the young Sphelele Mkhulise, but the midfielder could not find the target with his header with 32 minutes gone.

Downs then had another chance with a ball into the box, but this time Lebohang Maboe’s header at the far post was well saved by Ricardo Goss in the Wits goal.

It was 0-0 at the break with neither side really doing enough to be in the lead.

The Clever Boys were dealt a major blow just after the restart as Buhle Mkhwanazi received his marching orders for a second bookable offence after he brought down Themba Zwane in the 57th minute.

Pitso Mosimane’s charges almost took immediate advantage of the extra man in the 63rd minute when Sibusiso Vilakazi lost his man on the left flank before curling an effort towards goal, but to his agony it hit the right upright.

Sundowns began to apply pressure on the depleted Wits team who were looking to show discipline and hard work to stay in the game.

Vilakazi, though, almost broke the deadlock with nine minutes left to play when Vilakazi received the ball in the box after some lovely inter-passing but his shot from close range was expertly tipped over the bar by Goss.

Try as they might Sundowns just couldn’t break down a well-disciplined Wits side in the closing stages and both sides had to settle for a point.