It was another goal-fest entertainment football display from the two Tshwane teams as SuperSport United became the first team in the DStv Premiership to score against Mamelodi Sundowns this season in a 2-2 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.. Three changes were made to Sundowns’ starting line up with Neo Maema, Pavol Safranko and Lyle Lakay starting the game on the evening in place of Thabiso Kutumela, Thapelo Morena and Divine Lunga.
United were the first to threaten in the game when on-form striker Thamsanqa Gabuza was determined to give his team the lead with a shot towards goal that hit the woodwork. Masandawana responded shortly with their own attempt at goal by Namibian international Peter Shalulile with a turn outside the box but could not find the target. That hostility wasn’t reserved as Matsatsantsa pressed the defending champions relentlessly, however Downs continued dominating possession in a match played almost exclusively in their opponents half. Gabuza’s came close again with a second attempt at goal that was cleared off the line by Mosa Lebusa.
Bafana Ba Style continued with their attacking football, Lakay nearly broke the deadlock when his in-swinging free-kick forced an alert save from Ronwen Williams as the ball went inches over the goalposts. Themba Zwane and Shalulile’s combinations in United’s half set Masandawana on a good scoring opportunity, but another shot on target met the goalposts. Downs’ determination to score opened up spaces in United’s defense, an own goal towards Williams nearly punished the visitors but the Bafana Bafana international goalie set the danger aside.
The Brazilians were rampant and fearless in searching for the opener, left footer Maema put pay to their efforts just before the half time break to give the hosts a lead in the thrilling derby. Shortly after the second half of the encounter had resumed Masandawana’s intention on earning all the bragging rights was set by their goal poacher Shalulile who added to his goal scoring tally, the Namibian international striker scoring goal number 9 in 11 league appearances.
Matsatsantsa proved to be no pushovers in the encounter with their fighting spirit and chased the game from behind while giving Onyango no rest with threatening shots on target and building on their conference. United’s youngster Jemmy Webber’s long range shot at goal bounced off Onyango’s chest and was quickly finished off by Gamphani Lungu as SuperSport broke Downs’ record of clean sheets.
The drama was not over at Loftus, the defending Champions did not back down after the goal as they continued to rotate the ball in midfield but Matsatsantsa were now confident in contesting for the ball. After a blur of quick passes, SuperSport earned a free-kick that was well taken by Teboho Mokwena before firing a shot to the keeper’s left to give his side the equalizer and a shocking wave to the Yellow Nation. With added time to play, United were pushing forward in numbers to attack but the solid defense of Downs put off the threats, this time former United Grant Kekana was spectacular with a sliding tackle to deny Matsatsantsa any goal scoring opportunities. Masandawana continue to hold the number one spot in the DStv Premiership despite the draw against United.
This is how we lined up: D. Onyango, M. Lebusa © , Lyle Lakay, K. Mudau, G. Kekana, A. Jali, Neo Maema, Pavol Safranko, T. Zwane, H. Domingo, P. Shalulile
Subs: K. Mweene, G. Maluleka, T. Kutumela, A. Modiba, R. Nascimento, R. De Reuck, S. Vilakazi, G. Sirino, K. Erasmus.
Wow, it actually feels like a loose. I really don’t want to blame Onyango because he’s also saved us a lot in critical games, but I always knew that there’s a moemish or two in him. We’re still going to loose and draw a lot of games, but it’s ohkay (in Pitso’s voice). What a gem we’ve found in Maema, unfortunately the boy only plays for 45 minutes for now, but with time and more game time, his fitness will improve. I feel we should’ve introduced Mvala or Rivaldo in midfield after going 2-0
up because I see Jali is really tired and SSU were attacking us right down the middle and there was very little resistance. Sirino’s substitute was just a waste of substitute. The boy is no longer himself and I did say that we’re making a very big mistake by blocking his move.
Its football. You win some, draw some and lose some. To every sundowns it feels like a loss, from a 2-nil lead to 2-2. We will soon forget about this game and only remember that we are undefeated . It was a hard nut to crack and a bitter pill to swallow.We are hopeful that the team got the message right from SS united. The obvious games to win end up in pain with all the ball possession .
We lost the 2 points on the bench,our technical team does things the other way around,against City when we wanted to open them up the replaced late with defensive players,the same way they did against Aghly,played with 2 strikers away and played with 1 striker home when we needed a win at all costs.2nite when we were in control of the game they substituted early and put offensive players when we needed to close shop.Zwane was in and out of the game but replacing him early was the biggest mistake, we were left with no one to hold on to the ball.The other big mistake was to play Domingo ahead of Mkhulise,Domingo needs time to master that role,he plays in patches,he hides when we are in possession,he tires early,he lakes the energy and endurance that Mkhulise has.Assignment for the technical team,please compare the last game Mkhulise played with the the last game Domingo played then you will find the correct answers.We said bring back Maema and Safranko,look what happened,they did exceptionally good.Way forward,in our next game please put Mkhulise instead of Domingo and also put Motupa on the bench to replace Safranko coz after Safranko was replaced it was Shaulile against the world.Lastly I think Onyango struggles during the night’s games,we must put Pieterse on the night.We were lucky not to lose that game.Don’t introduce players to do them favour or because of their names,create a healthy competition by selecting them on merit.
Thanks God this record of keeping a clean sheet came to an end now we gonna play.Another thing that Onyango we mustn’t blame him because he used to saves us is not sitting well with me,Onyango is employed to prevent goals from going in its his job why are we sugar cotting his silly mistakes even in our game against Al Ahly he did his stupid things and he was casual just because we are not conceding actually he annoyed me how I wish we can bring back Pieterse that boy knows how to pair out balls not Onyango who give an oncoming opponent.
Hope this draw uts a wake up call we gonna unleash Mtupa,Kapinga and Maraisane and I fulky agree with my fellow Dawanas that Sofranko is helping Shalulile a lot and we saw after being substituted what happened and lastly we have a gem in Maema I salute that boy just imagine we play him with Kapinga and Maraisane if Zwane is substituted, Kby forever
I just hope they sort out this sooner. Neo was my man of the Match goal and assist. I wonder why it was given to Mkwena, but Onyango l don’t know what does happen to him sometimes only God knows. He becomes a shadow of himself. To me past results do not count he messed up big time tonight
We were playing very well with the combination of Shalulile, Sanfranko, Maema and Zwane. The game changed the momentum only when coaches replace Zwane with their favorite player, Kutumela. I have been saying it many times that Kutumela is not Sundowns material, we will go nowhere with this player, but our coaches do no see it. I feel sorry for Onyango, he is our best goalkeeper, today he was unlucky.
I meant is a part of the game to concede goals. There is goals he conceded in past we don’t blame him for that because the were taught goals he has no choice and he has save alot of hard goals we thank him for that that why we say is Africa number one and is his job to die on the field.
But tonight he cost us 3 point all the balls from distance one bounce on the his chest second one where he was standing covering a poll no. Past results do not count
A draw is better than no points at all,but I want to say this is an unwarranted draw, Onyango killed a collective effort by the whole team.He has his blunders when we’re expecting the best out of him he just let us down.He has that tendency of making silly mistakes when we need him most.The coaches substituted the way we wanted &let’s not blame the coaches because it’s what we wanted,and the goals that we conceded never came from the mistakes from the bençh.Let me put it like this Kutumela is the one who created an assist for Lunga against Arrows, against Pirates for Shalulile, against Cape town City for Morena in the MTN8,against Arrows for Safranko to finish.He has already scored a goal for us,is Kutumela not a Sundowns material really? I don’t think so!!!Maybe today we did not get the full maximum points that’s what frustrating us.Again we are missing Mvala to shut the back door the same person we were saying is not Sundowns material,hayi we lost 2 valuable points that’s what is killing our moral.We can pickup 3 points in the next assignment.I will say this Sirino must forget about going to Al Ahly it’s not going to happen, the more he accepts that the better.It will be his self destruction if he thinks about that.He must start behaving like a professional footballer that’s what he was employed for end of the story.Theres a next time to collect maximum points,we will do that with distinction
Mfana, I did not say Kutumela is not a good player, but not Sundowns material. You mentioned few accasions where he assisted, but in general his average is below 50% same with Mvala. Can you campare their workrates with the ones of Jali, Maema, Shalulile, Zwane, Lekay, Kekana, Lebo, Onyango, Sanfranko, etc? Check very well Mvala, he can’t even control the ball, the defense miflefield is the heart of Sundowns with people like Kekana, Mabunda, Jali, even Maluleka is far better than him, we all know how he performed in Chiefs. The problem with our coaches, they like favoritism, they are killing the careers of many good players like Mkhulisu, Kapinga, Maluleka, Vilakazi, Matupa and other. They are struggling to pick up the best players from the team, because of too many quality players, and they end up picking up the below average ones.
Yep, we lost the game in that defensive midfield. Jali was no match to Tebogo Mokoena. We totally loose control of the midfield when Rivaldo is not there, something which tells a lot about Jali as well. He plays in patches and sometimes go and hide behind Kekana and Lebusa. SSU were clearly bossing the midfield and we were very lucky to escape with a point
The threat by SSU was always there even before Safranko and Zwane were substituted. The game could actually have gone either way. SSU should’ve been ahead in the first minute, again Jali being soft on Mokoena and let him release the ball to Gabuza who should’ve easily scored. It was a game of who could convert his chances better, but it was a freeway for SSU in that midfield
hardy Yellow nation – Sundowns is a victim of its own success ,as fans we are so spoilt to a point where we think Sundowns is immune to defeat .it is not easy to accept a loss but a true fan of football construct themselves in much more sterner stuff than to throw tantrums over a drawn game. may the players coaching team and everyone involved come out much more stronger and not let a drawn game demoralise them . kabo yellow
Let me start by saying that we will always have a stellar performance on the field of play, we should always acknowledge that as fans and supporters alike. I for one, am content that we did not loose that match, as the stats suggests that we could have lost it.
I will not speak much about ONYANGO as those were errors , which could have been committed by any player…we need to take it in the chin and move on. The guy has been our saviour for us in many ocassions, so we need to let this one slide.
I will just highlight two things, so as not to preach.
1. Lyle Lakay – There was nothing that he gave us on the day, and would have thought that after Lunga’s good performance against City, he will included inthe line-up but it wasn’t to be BUT Lyle did not step up to show that he wants this position back. He must just learn from MUDAU, the guy is cementing his position ahead of MORENA – It is difficult to choose MORENA ahead of MUDAU and not because he is preferred by coaches, but because he works his socks off for the team.
2. Safranko is trying to hard for my liking – yersteday he was off (totally out of sorts) and i know he has got a great contribution to the games we have played thus far but izolo /maobane it was a below par performance. At times i feel that we want to prove to the media that the investment done to safranko is a good one y fielding him. I think he also should work for his position.if Motupa can do better, then Safrankio should be benched.