Stellenbosch showed their resilience once again after they fought back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns at a rainy Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Steve Barker’s side created plenty of chances in the wet conditions but found themselves trailing to Cassius Mailula’s opener with just 13 minutes left on the clock.
However, Iqraam Rayners scored for the third game in succession when he converted from the penalty spot three minutes from time to clinch a dramatic share of the spoils.
The Brazilians dropped points for the first time in 16 matches to delay their coronation for another game as the Cape Winelands outfit edged further away from trouble with a 10th point in four outings.
Stellenbosch were seeking only their second-ever top-flight win over Sundowns, who came into the clash on the back of a 15-match winning streak in the league stretching back to September 7.
An action-packed first half saw the hosts threaten as early as the third minute when Junior Mendieta forced Reyaad Pieterse into a save from close range after getting on the end of Devon Titus’ cross, while Thapelo Morena cleared the crossbar with a snapshot from range two minutes later at the other end.
Mendieta tested Pieterse again on 19 minutes with a venomous strike from range after linking up with Titus once more and the Argentine fired narrowly wide of the left post from inside the box when a free-kick landed in his path on 26 minutes.
Sage Stephens was called into action for the first time two minutes later to keep out Haashim Domingo’s shot from inside the area after he did well to bring down Ntando Nkosi’s ball over the top.
The visitors finished the half strongly though, with Thapelo Morena sending a first-time shot fizzing just wide of the right post on 40 minutes before Peter Shalulile flashed the ball across the face of goal two minutes later after being played in by Domingo.
Neo Maema then drew a fine save out of Stephens with a strike from distance in the 45th minute as the two teams went into the break still deadlocked at 0-0.
Pieterse was required to make two saves from Jayden Adams early in the second half, first getting down to his right to prevent the attacking midfielder’s volley from nestling into the corner of the net on 55 minutes and then keeping out his header from Fawaaz Basadien’s cross in the 58th minute.
Mokwena went to his bench for inspiration and substitute Mailula took just 11 minutes to make an impact as he latched onto Shalulile’s free-kick to fire past Stephens from inside the area on 77 minutes.
Antonio Van Wyk also looked to make his mark off the bench when he produced a save out of Pieterse from inside the box in the 83rd minute after being found by fellow substitute Andre de Jong.
Stellies were given a glimmer of hope just three minutes later as Qobolwakhe Sibande went down under a challenge from Sipho Mbule inside the area to win a penalty and Rayners made no mistake from 12 yards out to restore parity.
Stephens pulled off an outstanding save to deny Mbule in the final minute after the sub looked to make amends for his error just moments before and the woodwork came to the Maroons’ rescue at the death when Teboho Mokoena struck the crossbar with a shot from inside the area.