Mamelodi Sundowns lost 2-1 in their second derby of the season away at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday Night in the DStv Premiership. Goals from Thapelo Maseko and Bradley Grobler were enough to take all three points from Masandawana, and Nasir Abubeker’s late goal was not enough to earn the visitors victory.
Just 3 minutes into the start of the game Iqraam Rayners of United fired a shot on target, but Ronwen Williams was alert and ready to make the save. The Brazilians responded shortly through Marcelo Allende’s pass to Nasir who placed his shot on target but George Chigova made no mistakes and caught the ball.
The home team continued to apply the pressure on Sundowns, and managed to secure the lead when the clock hit 8 minutes through a well-worked switch of play, Rayners passed the ball to Maseko who found the space in between the defenders and opened the scoring board for United.
After 15 minutes of playtime, Bafana Ba Style cane guns blazing looking for an equalizer, Thapelo Morena found Neo Maema just outside the box. Maema controlled the pass and took a long range shot but was unfortunate to find the target. Nasir’s shot on target was called for offside as Chigova made the save and kept Matsatsantsa in the lead.
Another save was made to deny Masandawana the chance of a comeback, Andile Jali penetrated the defense with his long pass to Nasir who was running towards the box. United defenders made contact with the Ethiopian international as he laid the ball off to Teboho Mokoena, the midfielder looked to capitalize on the chance and took a shot that went slightly over the top of the goalposts.
As the game was reaching the end of the first half United kept on pushing for another goal, a defensive error on the left side of the pitch saw the ball being picked up by Rayners, the attacker delivered a cross into the box and Grobler grabbed the second goal for the home team. Sundowns went into the break trailing behind by two goals to zero.
As the second half continued, The Brazilians were the first ones to take a chance at goal, a shot from Maema was pushed by the goalkeeper and went out for a corner kick. A delivery into the box by the Tshwane giants was not enough to threaten the opposition and United regained position.
With the hosts applying pressure on their rivals as they worked the ball from the back, Jali stopped a counter attack and quickly played the ball forward but his teammates were unable to connect with the ball to put a finishing shot at goal. Bafana Ba Style made a triple substitution with around 30 minutes left bringing on Bradley Ralani for Allende, Themba Zwane for Mokoena, and Sipho Mbule on for Maema. Other substitutions that were made in the game include Aubrey Modiba and Mothobi Mvala as Lyle Lakay and Morena made their way off the pitch.
Downs continued to push forward, Nasir’s attempt to fund his teammates in the box caused a panic for Matsatsantsa but not enough to get a goal. Modiba delivered the ball into the box from a set piece that was awarded to Masandawana, Peter Shalulile headed the ball towards goal but the ball went over the top of the posts.
With the clock striking 90 minutes, Downs were still determined to play until the final whistle. The referee added 3 minutes to be played and Masandawana finally saw their efforts being rewarded. Ralani played a cross into the congested bkx that was filled with United players but Nasir headed home to give the visitors a goal in the encounter.
United grabbed their first win in the 2022-23 campaign and The Brazilians will look to come back stronger in their next league encounter.
This is how we lined up:
- Williams, T. Morena (85′ Mvala), L. Lakay (65′ Modiba), N. Abubeker, B. Onyango, R. De Reuck, T. Mokoena (59′ Zwane), A. Jali © , N. Maema (59′ Mbule), M. Allende (59′ Ralani), P. Shalulile
Subs:D. Onyango (GK), M. Lebusa, B. Ralani, S. Mkhulise, S. Mbule, M. Mvala, K. Mudau, T. Zwane, A. Modiba.
People are always calling for Morena to start at right back position and that’s what happened today &guess what Morena fails to mark&win crucial tackles and people must learn one thing Morena is good going forward but not on one on one situation &tackles.He doesn’t win heading duels with the opponents.Everytime Makati Makaringe punished us when playing for Maritzburg&we always come second best&again in Cairo against Ahl Ahly Morena was dragged by a striker without making a tackle & boom we conceded from his side of the pitch.My point is Morena has a fancy footwork going forward and doesn’t help at all when it comes to defending..And Lakay the first goal his intercepted pass mmmhhh???I don’t know. But it’s not lost and gloom lets dust ourselves and prepare for other 3 points that r coming our way.It was going to be very bad if we lost the MTN8 and won 3 points in the league match.Our mission of defending our treble is still within our reach, boys we can do this.Zungu is as fit as a horse& lets introduce him in the match day squad.Its the wing backs who let us down let’s pick up the pieces and move forward.We don’t have the divine right to win every game.Gavin Hunt was always going to frustrate us&today he succeeded let’s see if he is going to win the next game because it’s always like that the team will come up with a master plan to win against& bring their A game only to falter the next game &Supersport is not exception Kaboyelo I remain
The team actually played well. Our decision making let us down especially in the first half. We seem to make the wrong decision every time in and around the supersport box. Maema had a good game in the first half… We seem to rush everything and no composure which is normally what we good at. The technical team needs to fix this, as the players seem to get into each other spaces. Perhaps it was the character of the players that started the game. Many times in the first half where we had around 4 or 5 players in around the box but made the wrong decision.
I agree our players: decision-making sometimes leaves a lot to be desired . As professional players it is basic that before you receive the ball you have already scanned around you and see who is better positioned to receive the ball. Maema, my guy you need to improve on decision making ,,,, you shoot when you are supposed to pas and pass when you are supposed to shoot those finer details. Yesterday you were on the ball several times but could not utilise it for the benefit of the team. Our players should refrain from this thing of wanting to walk the ball into the net it costs us game. On the edge of the box we should shoot not over elaborating
We have good players and good playing system…. The like of Malema, Zwane they must watch and learn from Vinicias Jr how to score… We really have good 34 players but when comes to finish or scoring goals I don’t want went in our players mind.. Tebogo Mokoena must pick up socks is no more Tebo that we know…
Keep changing squad like socks now have benefits of doing so keep doing u will result bu to me no surprised i was expected Manqoba master of demolishing
My concern regarding the two defensive midfielders that were employed was that they never covered for the wing backs when they went forward as result the central defenders were being pulled side ways to cover for the wing backs and a result the central defence was exposed. Morena is good going forward and not defending! I hope the technical staff learnt something on his capabilities!
Supersport U.came to us well prepared and I admit we lost to a better team yesterday not that Downs were poor even though I’ve got some little problems about certain things,firstly Jali always going to the goalkeeper to take the ball and shouting, pointing fingers is very annoying to me instead of a goalkeeper just kick the ball to the relevant players and most of his passes are poor I don’t know when did they got that boring philosophy.
Lastly to Shalulile don’t and panic the goals will eventually come pass to others if they’re in a good position to score,all is not lost this thing (league)is ours.
Lakay cost us first goal due his bad pass and the gap that he was always behind him. Onyango is the worst defender I ever seen yellow I remain
I believe that as supporters sometimes we are too spoilt by dominating the league for the past decade and forget that we are not invincible. While I am one who voices my opinion I also believe that I should not be too emotional. We should try to live by our title SUPPORTERS and support the team through thick and thin. Yesterday was not a good example we were outvoiced by a small group of Matsatsantsa, and we were quite instead of pushing the team. The way we sang after the game was and is always beautiful but what about when the team needed that energy for instance when we were 2 – 0 down had we started our motivational singing we could have pushed the team to do better. it is a painful loss but we move on ,I sense this year some teams have seen how predictable we are and are exploiting the gaps as T S Galaxy and Supersport did. Our wing backs were careless yesterday their mistakes cost us the game, however, the same players have been exceptional over the years and hope they will rectify their mistakes in future games