Mamelodi Sundowns kept their unbeaten run going after playing to an entertaining 1-1 draw with TS Galaxy on Tuesday evening.
Star midfielder Teboho Mokoena returned from injury but was named on the bench, while Mosa Lebusa and Sphelele Mkhulise were handed starts by coach Rulani Mokwena.
Masandawana endured difficulty to get openings and actually needed a double save from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to deny both Sphiwe Mahlangu and Puso Dithejane.
Galaxy's Mpho Mvelase did put the ball in the net through a first-time shot from a tight angle but his effort was ruled out for offside.
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Sundowns began to up the tempo later on as a powerful drive from afar from Rivaldo Coetzee drew a teasing save from Fabrice Ntwari before Marcelo Allende snapped wide on the rebound.
Tensions began to spark on either side, with moments going but matters remained balanced all out and score-less it finished in the first half.
Lebohang Maboe and Mothobi Mvala were sent on by the Brazilians at halftime in place of Allende and Mbule, with the Rockets unchanged.
The Rockets continued to be the adventurous past the interval where the repeated entries by Sphiwe Mahlangu, Dithejane and Mvelase pinned Masandawana back.
Galaxy were unfortunate to not go ahead with over 15 minutes to go where Lindokuhle Mbatha fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.
The Tshwane heavyweights battled to hold out and were breached when Dithejane made found space on the edge of the box and sent neat finish past Ronwen Williams.
Masandawana regained momentum and pulled level when Shalulile managed to sneak in at the near post to head in Aubrey Modiba's cutback.
Given the tense nature, there were no winner and had the contest finish honours even which leaves the Brazilians unbeaten.
Confirmed line-ups:
TS Galaxy: Ntwari, Mvelase, Sanoka, M.Mahlangu, Khiba, Dithejane, Kabini, Mbatha, S. Mahlangu, Mojela, Sebelebele
Subs: Kolak, Seema, Mbunjana, Zwane, Mongae, Nurkovic, Semache, Letsoenyo, Mere
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Modiba, Coetzee, Lebusa, Mbule, Mkhulise, Allende, Matthews, Nku, Shalulile
Subs: Tshabalala, Mvala, Lunga, Mokoena, Maboe, Mabena, Maema, Esquivel, Morena
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