Cape Town - Chippa United rescued a draw from the jaws of defeat as a late Meshack Maphangule goal clinched a 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday night.

Pitso Mosimane's men appeared to be headed for a narrow victory after Lebohang Maboe had fired them in front in the first half, but the Chilli Boys had other ideas, snatching a draw in the 89th minute as Maphangule found the back of the net with the help of a wicked deflection off Motjeka Madisha.

Sibusiso Vilakazi and Lebohang Maboe returned to the Sundowns team after starting Sunday's CAF Champions League qualifier on the bench, while Bangaly Soumahoro made a surprise return to the squad.

After a quiet start to the half, Thabo Rakhale got behind his marker down the right side and Denis Onyango had to be on his toes to keep out the Chippa winger's deflected effort.

Besides that brief attempt from the Chilli Boys, Sundowns were dominating possession and looking the more enterprising of the two teams, but could not manage a shot on goal.

Lebogang Maboe then dispossessed Boikanyo Komane and went on a great run, dribbling his way past numerous markers but was eventually seen off.

The Brazilians took the lead in the 35th minute. Some neat one-touch play in extremely tight areas worked the ball in to the box, before Themba Zwane teed up Lebohang Maboe, who drilled the ball in to the bottom right corner.

But Sundowns were punished for their wastefulness in front of target when Chippa equalised in the 89th minute.

The ball was swung in to the area and Sundowns failed to clear their lines effectively with the ball falling to Meshack Maphangule, whose effort deflected off Motjeka Madisha and in to the back of the net to salvage a point for United.