Erwin Isaacs handed the People’s Team a first half lead from the penalty spot in an entertaining match in a wet and windy Cape Town.
The hosts made the better start and threatened first via a Thando Mngomeni free-kick in the 36th minute, and although Brazilians’ keeper Calvin Marlin managed to prevent the ball from finding the net, he could only parry the ball to Thembile Kanono, but the Santos midfielder somehow hit the ball over the bar from close range.
The visitors failed to seriously trouble the Santos goal during the first half and the hosts took the lead in the 42nd minute when Isaacs was fouled inside the area by Benson Mhlongo and the striker made no mistake from the spot.
The score remained 1-0 at the break.
Sundowns attacked from the restart and were duly rewarded in the 52nd minute when Apataki scrambled the ball home from close range following a Brent Carelse crosss into the area.
Both sides then went all out on attack with Sundowns the more prominent. However, neither side could add to their tally and the score remained 1-1 at the final whistle, which was probably the fair result.
