Sundowns fight back to hold Swallows

Mamelodi Sundowns showed fighting spirit often lacking in the team to draw 3-3 with Moroka Swallows today in the first leg of a South African Top 8 Cup semi-final. Hosts Sundowns were two goals behind after only eight minutes at Lucas Moripe Stadium in this Pretoria township and trailed again in the second half before close-season signing Edward Manqele levelled five minutes from time. The clubs clash again next weekend in Soweto with Sundowns almost certainly needing a win to qualify for the final of the $1 million winners-take-all competition after Swallows nabbed three away goals. Nigerian Felix Obada and Ashraf Hendricks were the early Swallows scorers, Teko Modise reduced arrears from a 17th-minute penalty and Hlompho Kekana equalised in the second half before Bennett Chenene put the Birds ahead again. SuperSport United and title holders Orlando Pirates meet tomorrow in the other first leg of a competition featuring the top eight finishers in the 2011/12 South African Premiership. From : Fifa