Mamelodi Sundowns split the points with Stellenbosch FC on a wet and windy night in the Western Cape on Saturday evening at the Danie Craven Stadium. The result keeps Sundowns at the top of the DStv Premiership table on 32 points after 13 matches played.
The Brazilians began the game in emphatic fashion with Downs creating the first opportunity within three minutes, Lyle Lakay found space on the left and played a ball towards the back post where Haashim Domingo narrowly missed it with his acrobatic effort.
The game settled after the ten minute mark as the hosts found their feet in the encounter and began to implement their counter-attacking style of play, sitting deep and waiting to use their pace up top to hurt Masandawana.
Chances were few and far between in the first half and it took a counter-attack late in the first half to cause Bafana Ba Style trouble when Ashley Du Preez was brought down by Khuliso Mudau in the box. Junior Mendieta stepped up to the spot and scored the penalty to put his side into the lead, scoring a goal which saw Downs go into the break trailing for the first time this season.
The Brazilians stepped out for the second half with the coaches looking to change their approach, bringing on Thapelo Morena in place of Mudau during the break. It was the visiting side who again created an opportunity early on after the restart, with Mosa Lebusa heading over a chance from a Lyle Lakay delivery.
It was Lakay – who was prominent throughout the game – who would restore parity for Bafana Ba Style, with a left-footed strike into the bottom corner. The final half an hour was played at a frantic pace with Sundowns asking all the questions as they looked to take the lead on the night.
More changes followed from the bench, with Pavol Safranko, Kermit Erasmus and Aubrey Modiba all making their way onto the field in the closing stages looking to make a difference and help the team leave with all three points. It was not to be for Sundowns as they left the Danie Craven stadium with a point and extended their unbeaten start to the season to 13 matches without defeat.
Up next for the team is a home encounter against Royal AM on Wednesday evening.
How we lined up: Mweene, Mudau (45’ Morena), Lebusa, Kekana, Lakay, Coetzee, Jali, Domingo (56’ Safranko), Zwane (80’ Modiba), Shalulile, Kutumela (80’ Erasmus)
Pieterse, De Reuck, Mvala, Modiba,Erasmus, Kapinga, Morena, Safranko, Sirino
I remember my favorite coach Clemens Westerhof when he said about Alton Meiring that he will not even dribble a tree I think this is what We are experiencing on Sofranko.
He was introduced but I don’t remember him did something good today and another worry is for us not even convert one corner kick after so many we got maybe they don’t practice them at the gym.
If there’s a team that have never say die attitude is none other than Atalanta of Italy how I wish my team can be like them and stop the so called slow build up even when the time is not on our side.
At least we got a draw but I will keep on crying about Sofranko and Domingo,Kby forever
My concern is we are loosing that creativity that Zwane and Gaston used to produce and create opportunities for Strikers to score goals our Subtutes of Romeo and Safranko they have never changed the games in our favour instead of bringing in creative Middlefielders abo kabanga Gaston and let Shalulile stay in the box . We could see that Du preez was all the times trying to get behind Mudau but no one told him to be Cautious or let the Middlefield cover for him whenever he push forward , they always wait for damage to react Themba from the first whistle was not in the game not because he was marked but l didn’t see the efforts and hunger. Agree with kunene we nock too ball at the back , we supposed to do that when we are winning with alot of goals to keep position. We don’t counter attack transition is very slow when a team attack us and loose position we do not capitalize on that but we wait for teams to regroup. Pitso was doing that beautifully with Tau and Khama. For example Chiefs they score all of their goals based on capitalizing on opponents after they lose positions. Really l agree when people say is only Sundowns can beat themselves. I hope we going to regroup soon because our performance is bit low. Congrats though for the draw is better than loosing.
Guys what makes me angry is this the past 10 years we have promoted Tau, late Madisha, Mkhulise and Koketso unfortunately Koketso and Mkhulise Coaches do not like them. My biggest Question is for the past 10 years we have been loaning players out but they never come back what is a problem. Our structure from all the teams is the same so players should easily fit in from development. Makume was getting well under Pitso and deadly in free kicks get to the senior team. None of the Coaches courage him to take free kicks until he disappeared.. Malebo with a sweet left foot I remember a goal he created for maritzburg against chiefs for me better than Modiba. Teams all over the world they have players promoted to the first team coming through from development. So they grow with mentality of that club. Yes l know we can’t promote all the players one or two every season. What is said they go to other clubs and sign those youngsters who where competing and coming second from our youngsters and they sign them and let them play for our Senior team while our own youngsters end up on the street
Manqoba said Stellies are difficult to break down, For me if you play against the team seat back. you need individual brilliance take the ball get in the box dribble them and they panic same as how they score a goal. But we let keketso join Swallows he is good in turning defenders. We really don’t use skill in required places. If you dribble in your opponent box is either a foul or a goal is created if we can spend 30% of the balls we knock at the back. But we knock it in the opponent 18 area we will score alot of goals. But we like a kind of a boxer who always reverse or run around the ring without going forward punching an opponent forcing things, that why we watch pl is because those teams they attack each other. Abo Liverpool, man city Chelsea they like play Cheers. Is like l put 1 and u put 2 they play they fight 90 minutes
When I saw the starting line up with Kutumela, I knew that we are not going to win. I do not know if you realize when this man is in the starting lineup, we do not win, because he doesn’t play well, and he is not Sundowns material. I don’t know what our coaches see special in him. I always say that we have many good players who are far better than him like Kapinga, Mkhulisi, Vilakazi, Matupa, Romeo, Maluleka and others, but our coaches, who like favoritism, prefer him over them. Keep my word, If Sundowns technical team continues to put their preference to Kutumela and Mvala over other players, we are not going to win this league including caf champion league, and Chiefs is coming.
I agree with Nkoyi… Kutumela is not offering us anything. We made so many mistakes yesterday and was kept in the line-up. Where is our bright nboy, Neo Maema? he is far far better than Kutumela and Safranko. Erasmus is also not offering us anything… infact is becoming more and more useless everytime I see him. Domingo is another player… he is busy but just doing nonsense!! we are supposed to have goals from him because of the position he is playing. Zwane has been off for the past 5 games… makes unnecessary stupid dummy moves even in tough games… and loses the balls. Lebusa and Grant at the back keep passing each other backwards… this is why Lebusa made that mistake against Sekhukhune. The less said about Safranko the better… that palooka is useless… and I think he is just been played because they paid so much for him and must justify why he is getting paid so much… that was a flop flop buy… and some people again defrauded Sundowns… I always say there are some people at Sundowns that eat Motsepe’s money with they useless buying of players… and I think Pitso was disliked because he was in the way of these thieves at Sundowns that steal Motsepe’s money.
Our second half performance was better except playing too much ball at the back aimlessly,Zwane is off form,Domingo not productive,I think is high time other players are given a chance,let us try other combinations and systems cause the current one is not working, we have been struggling for the past 4 games yet the coaches are doing nothing,the lack of trust to youngsters by the technical team is destroying this team and we are struggling to compete against youngsters from other teams.Last night we were tactically out smarted which is what we’re lacking,there’s no element of surprise from our technical team.Our line up is predictable,you will always find Zwane,Onyango or Mweene in the starting line up whether is a cup,league or friendly game.We want other coaches to play our youngsters when we are afraid to give them a chance.If you can check Man City sometimes you find Sterling,Jesus,De Byane Maretz on the bench and when they are introduced you see hunger,us we are Zwane/ Onyango team,the only time they are not playing is when they are injured or suspended.,you make players feel like without them we are nothing never work hard.I knew we’re going to struggle when I saw Maema stretched off against Sekhukhune cause he’s the only one with silky touches and skill to penetrate stubborn defenders and others who play like him are left in the stands or loaned out for players who play for ball possession.If you can bench De Reuck who played well in all our games for the erratic Lebusa why can’t you do the same with other players,the only mistake De Reuck was to play for the National team, we lack players management,the 3 of De Reuck,Lebusa and Kekana should be rotated especially Lebusa cause both Kekana and De Reuck are able to cover him and he can’t cover them.I laughed when Manghoba said he expected Sankala to play,other coaches have a different plan for each game and are not predictable as you.
Coaches are let team down if starting Xi has Kutumela. Domingo.Lebusa no win whats i notice Lebusa hasn got team work at game against S Sport was supose cover Onyango on 1st goal instead was just ball watch until S.Sport score same as against Stallies he watch while Madau was?battling Stellies player until he foul him