Mamelodi Sundowns registered their first defeat of the season against Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. The loss came through a 1-0 scoreline in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal in their backyard.
The hosts looked for a strong start early in the game, with Cassius Mailula making a cross intended for Lebo Mothiba. The forward who intended to head the ball arrived late to it as the keeper caught it.
A clear-cut chance presented itself for Downs on the 11th minute as they kept the ball in their opponent’s half. A one versus one effort was blocked by the goalkeeper who spread himself to block the convincing chance from Mothiba.
Another cross from Mailula met Mothiba who attempted to head it towards goal. He was, however, unlucky to have the ball sail over the bar.
On the 25th minute, Arrows made a counterattack effort that saw them drive the ball to the box. With so much defensive attention from the hosts, the visitors fired a shot that went wide.
Despite the hosts dominating possession, it is Abafana Besthende who broke the deadlock on the 38th minute through a clinical finish.
In the final minutes of the opening stanza, Bennet Mokoena almost levelled matters through a long range strike but the keeper hopped to smack the ball away. The hosts went to the break trailing by a goal.
Bafana Ba Style almost levelled matters in the opening minutes of the second half. It was Aubrey Modiba’s effort from the left flank that saw the keeper diving to redirect the ball off the target with his fingers.
On the 70th minute, Downs drew another save out of the Arrows keeper. Modiba’s corner kick found substitute, Brayan Leon, whose effort was cleared by the keeper.
Three minutes later, on the other side of the box, Arrows were close to doubling their lead but the shot went wide.
The hosts fought very hard looking for a goal but it wasn’t to be for them. They will head to KwaZulu-Natal next weekend and hope to turn things around as they continue their quest for the MTN8 title.
How we lined up: Goss, Mdunyelwa, Johannes, Khoza, Modiba ©, Aubaas, Allende, B. Mokoena, Mailula, Mothiba, Ndlovu.
Subs: Onyango, Mvala, Basadien, Morena, Mkhulise, Zwane, Santos, Matthews, Leon.
Sanibonani kade yagcinana MaDawana,I do have a problem with our fellow Dawanas regarding our team’s selection. If our coach keeps on playing the same players it’s us the supporters crying about heavy load and fatigue on later stages,when he rotates we also cry and if my memory serves me well all those players are on our payroll even Johannes and Mothiba they should play.
When he introduced young players like other team do we also cried,there’s no coach who’s perfect including your beloved Rhulani whom he failed to win us Champs League.
Downs is gonna participating in a lot of trophies this season this plastic cups to me are derailing our progress and causes fatigue to our players,the only big fish to me is none other than the league and Continental trophies we can’t break our legs for just a mere R7m for the winner let those whom are poor or financial bankrupt fight for it and We mustn’t forget this players are also human they need to rest thina as Dawanas we go to Africa where there’s honey and milk BUT once Mr Khoza and His Executive increases all the prize money for this trophies including the league to R50m I will take them serious and cry if We loose,insult me the way you want but deep down on yo hearts you know where is our bread buttered. Lastly I said it last time don’t mind our opponents when they seems to cry with us those are the crocodile tears they are laughing at us wait for us when we are demolishing them they will start saying where is the Fifa fair play. Kby forever.
To think that Cardoso went to Austria for a preseason training &was granted a postponement of the game,but Sundowns keep on conceding goal after goal,this leaves a lot to be desired by coach.I thought trimming the squad was going to make the coach show us flames bt kuphi kona,we r just subjected to short sightedness and a coach who just bring substitutes based on love for a player rather than an impact on the field of play.I mean Mokoena was the live wire and Santos came for Mailula and they’re not different from the players who started the game.Releasing Shalulile means u r have to one of the greatest strikers in your arsenal bt u leave some one who’s like a bouncer in comparison to a player.I mean Mothiba can’t trap,score a penalty,can’t pass,run,shoot or do anything done by a player.Its just an insult to players to even mention Mothiba as a player.How can a striker spend 2 seasons without scoring a goal yet a coach will make cheap excuses.In all we r expecting another dry spell from Sundowns in terms of winning a domestic trophy.The truth is simple Cardoso is still here bcoz he’s a lilly white European and nothing more even the preseason Cardoso came with nothing..
Masandawana we don’t have a coach, how can he start with mothiba where as we have Rayners and Leon on the bench? He let shalulile go and keeps mothiba
Honestly i think the coach is trying to give all the players a chance to prove themselves but instead of raising their hands to be counted,the raise a middle finger to the coach and us as supporters.Our players don’t show hunger and passion,we used to press teams quickly after losing the ball and recover it within some few seconds,now the fighting spirit is dead.Another elephant in the room is our management,you can’t keep an unhappy player in the team.If players like Santos wants to leave let him go,the boy is lazy,can’t run and can’t even defend.We have hungry player like Ndlovu and B Mokoena to propel the team forward.Most members haven’t noticed Santos cannot mark,whenever he throws a foot is a foul or he will try to hold the player or beat him with his hands.Our game lacks intensity and the work rate of the players both on or off the ball leaves much to be desired.We need to sign a right back( Matuludi) to complement Mdunyewa,a wise central midfielder ( Mosele Goodman) and another central defender (Ncanana Sephamndla) and refrain from signing expensive European players who are going to take forever adapt,we need players who are gonna hit the ground running.Our players need to do some intense introspection.Good luck for tomorrow and hope to see changed attitude from the players.