The Cape side had their backs to the wall for most of the game, but in the end their commitment paid off as they earned a valuable point on the road.

The first half saw The Peoples’ Team happy to sit back and try and catch Sundowns on the counter-attack.

While this ensured that the Brazilians had plenty of ball possession, they never really threatened their opponents goal in what was by and large a pedestrian first stanza.

Bafana Bafana Lerato Chabangu looked sharp for the hosts early on and in the 11 th minute he produced a delightful through ball for Godfrey Sapula.

The veteran midfielder’s first touch was excellent, allowing him to squeeze in a shot from a tight position, but Santos keeper Wayne Roberts did brilliantly to make a block with his legs.

Chances were few and far between for both sides in the first half and The Peoples’ Team had to wait until the 45 th minute for what was probably their best opportunity of the opening half, when Tom-Rick October blasted over the bar after a corner routine.

At the other end of the field Santos defender Wayne Arendse did well to make sure his team did not concede just before the break when he stopped Fanyana Dhladhla from getting his shot away after he seemed to be through on goal.

The second half failed to bring a change to the pattern of play as the home team again enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, creating numerous chances in the process.

In the 49 th minute Trott Moloto’s men had two opportunities in quick succession, with Surprise Moriri’s stinging shot drawing a sharp save out of Roberts, while the resultant corner was headed over the bar by Zimbabwean midfielder Esrom Nyandoro.

Four minutes later Fanyana Dhladhla ghosted in at the back post to get on the end of a Moriri cross, but his header flew into the side-netting.

Sundowns continued to push forward and in the 66 th minute a free kick by Chabangu ended with the same result.

Chabangu continued to be the main threat for the home side and in the 70 th minute he carved out a good opportunity for Moriri, who could only send his angled shot wide of the target.

Nyandoro was also driving forward from the centre of the park on a regular basis and came within a whisker of winning the game for Downs ten minutes from time when his grass-cutter from the edge of the area flew inches wide of goal.

Two minutes into injury time Sundowns striker Peter Ndlovu missed a glorious opportunity when an error in the Santos defence saw him clean through on goal, but with only Roberts to beat, the veteran Zimbabwean sent his shot wide of the upright, forcing the Pretoria side to settle for a point from a game they dominated.

TEAMS:

Sundowns: Marlin, Manzini, Johannes, Lekgothoane, Sapula (Ndlovu 68’), Mhlongo, Chabangu, Nyandoro, Dhladhla (Dladla 68’), Acuna, Moriri

Santos : Roberts, Otieno, Makonese, Arendse, October (Bax 86’), Fransch, Gabonamong, Skippers (Oakes 62’), Rodgers, Mathopa (Chimodzi 45’), Chapman