Free State Stars began the resurgence new coach Gordon Igesund promised by holding Mamelodi Sundowns to a 2-2 draw at Goble Park on Saturday afternoon.
Aleni Lebyane netted the hosts in front against the run of play, before a two-goal blitz from Siyanda Xulu and Katlego Mphela leveled the scores. Substitute Sipho Nkosi denied Hristo Stoichkov the three points late on as the Brazilians failed to push on from their midweek win over Orlando Pirates.
Ea Lla Koto were put under pressure early on, with Elias Pelembe, Katlego Mphela and Matthew Pattison trying their luck from range.
However, Igesund struck the first blow over his former employers when Lebyane converted Kleinbooi Taaibos' cross past Brian Baloyi on the 15-minute mark.
The Brazilians poured forward and Stars were content to let them control possession in the middle of the park, but put pressure on their attackers in the final third.
After the break though, the Brazilians began pushing forward with greater vigour and Katlego Mphela pulled them level after 56 minutes. Ea Lla Koto's back four had barely recovered from the equaliser, when a Pelembe cross was headed in by Siyanda Xulu to fire Sundowns in front.
Mphela went close moments later, but Stars goalkeeper Kennedy Mwenee was equal to the Bafana Bafana striker's header.
The league's top goalscorer would rue that 'miss' as with ten minutes remaining, Nkosi evened matters after rising the highest to meet Siyabonga Mdluli's free kick following Siyabonga Ngubane's challenge on Jonathan Mensah.
The remaining minutes of the encounter saw both sides push for three points, with Stars having a penalty shout turned down and Mphela almost flicking home a corner at the death.
Stoichkov admitted before the match that it would be hard to repeat the performance his men displayed against the Buccaneers and that was clear for all to see at Goble Park.
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