A goalless draw played at Loftus Versfeld against TTM – this was the second game of the season for Masandawana and not the result that the boys hoped for.
Going into tonight’s game, only one change was made in the starting eleven from the team that started the game against Kaizer Chiefs over the weekend. Sphelele Mkhulise replaced Kermit Erasmus who failed a late fitness test. The other change in the squad was Ricardo Goss who came in for Kennedy Mweene.
The game started off at a steady pace and Masandawana showed their intentions from the opening minutes – they were going to press the visitors. In the first minute Andile Jali dispossessed the visitor’s defence and laid one for Themba Zwane but TTM were quick to react and cleared the ball. The visitors also showed that they are not just in Pretoria for an excursion, as Justin Shonga found space with his shot being saved by Denis Onyango.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ pressing game almost paid off as Hlompho Kekana managed to win the ball from Alfred Ndengane, his shot beat the keeper but could not beat the crossbar. The Brazilians kept pressing and in the twenty-seventh minute Thapelo Morena put in a great cross for Peter Shalulile however, he missed the ball and gave Vhadau a breather. The first half ended goalless.
In the second half Masandawana had one thing on their mind and that was to find the opening goal of the night which was evident as Keletso Makgalwa came on for Mkhulise to add firepower up front. TTM also pushed for the opening goal and Diamond Thopola put a ball into the box which Onyango had covered.
The Brazilians’ bench was busy as changes were made so they could put pressure on the Limpopo based side. Kekana came off for George Maluleka so that he could boss the midfield. No clear chances were created in the second half except for one moment which resulted in Makgalwa injured and which should have been a penalty. The game ended in a draw.
How we lined up:
Onyango, Morena, Madisha, Nascimento, Lakay (68′ Langerman), Jali, Kekana (58′ Maluleka), Coetzee, Mkhulise, Makgalwa (80′ Maboe), Zwane, Shalulile (80′ Mudau)
Subs: Goss, Mudau, Lebusa, Maluleka, Mvala, Maboe, Langerman, Domingo
Pls my coaches stamp your authority to the so called big players because if you continue to let them do as they please it will be your downfall,Kekana,Onyango and Zwane are main culprits. ,Onyango hold on to the ball too much not passing fast to the strikers uyazihambela nje and Zwane is selfish wants to dribble all the time before passing the ball,Kekana is costing us every game but come match day he will start.
Our play is not convincing. We lack creativity. We complain about other teams parking the bus yet we had 5 at back. We had Jali, Kekane and. Skhulise in middle. That left us with only Shalulile and Zwane upfront. If you recall that’s how chiefs used to play under Kompela. Too defensive. Even at the bench we had 5 defensive players. We had Mudau, langerman, Lebusa, Mvava and George. How were we suppose to create chances?
You are spot on member , we are playing , how can we play 5 defensive players in midfield against minnows. This is exactly the same tactics that Khompela used at chiefs. Am worried about our young ball players like Kapinga,Domingo, Mkhuma , Modiba and Makgalwa if they will get fair chance if we p.aying like this
The slow built up at the back with no sense of urgency is costing us,most of our players lacked hunger.To the technical team,we don’t owe Kekana is costing us big time,twice he failed to trap the ball alone,i even lost count of the times he kicked the ball outside the pitch or to no man’s land with no pressure.Before you analyze your opponents you must analyze the individual performance of your players first,some are no longer adding value to the team.Hope we will do better in our next game.Don’t make players to think they own the positions,create a healthy competition,we don’t need an automatic team selection.I was impressed to see early substitutions.
You are spot on member , how can we play 5 defensive players in midfield against minnows. This is exactly the same tactics that Khompela used at chiefs. Am worried about our young ball players like Kapinga,Domingo, Mkhuma , Modiba and Makgalwa if they will get fair chance if we p.aying like this
Sundowns has done nothing wrong but it needs our outmost support a win and a draw is a very good result . there will be times when Sundowns will lose home games as it has been the case for any team in the world . so people chill and brace yourselves for more heartbreaks like any other team . Sundowns don’t play with robots , they are going to win draw and lose games like any other team .