Mamelodi Sundowns were knocked out of the CAF Champions League after the team drew 1-1 with Egyptian side Al Ahly at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon. This meeting was the sixth overall in the last three campaigns between the two sides and yet again produced a thrilling encounter with a place in the semi-finals at stake. Ultimately, it was the reigning champions of the competition who progressed with a 3-1 aggregate score line in their favour.
Reflecting on the tie, Coach Manqoba Mngqithi acknowledged that conceding an early goal – scored by Yasser Ibrahim – made the challenge of overcoming their first leg deficit even harder: “We knew it was not going to be easy, but I think we also made it a little bit more difficult by conceding from that set-piece.”
“We tried very hard to push them, they were sitting with a very low block which we tried to break down. Unfortunately we conceded from that corner kick and I think we did not do very well in our zones.”
Despite going a goal down, The Brazilians displayed immense fighting spirit on the day and were able claw a goal back through Mosa Lebusa. Downs thought they had taken the lead with twenty minutes to play before Peter Shalulile’s strike was ruled out by the referee’s whistle.
Coach Manqoba was impressed by the way his charges performed on the day and could not take anything away from the character they showed: “We did expect that if they score we might be expected to dig a little bit deeper, and we tried. I can not falter the players, they gave it their best shot, but on the day with everything that we tried we could not get the desired outcomes. But this is how a Champions League match will always be, you can give it so much but at times it can be difficult to penetrate such a low block.”
“We did what we had to do on the day, but unfortunately whatever we did was not enough to win the match.”
The result sees Sundowns exit the continental competition and the team will be looking to end their domestic season on a high with four remaining games in the DStv Premiership.
But the 3 of u Mngqithi need to analyze all the Arabian players are not as quick &nippy as other our South African players, so there was no need to put Brian Onyango&Mvala especially away from home.You also know that with limited time on the field of play Mvala has already scored 3 goals.The only thing you r highlighting is ball possession.You bought these big animals B Onyango, Mvala &Affonso for the African competitions but all of a sudden u don’t utilize them? Especially away from home Depot Reuck was supposed to be on that place of Morena in Egypt and guess what Morena was dragged by that big Egyptian striker &boom a great goal was conceded by us.But enough about our opinions regarding the African games.We support you with all our hearts but it’s just emotions get better of us as supporters,I still have a firm belief that the 3 o of you will take us to the promised Land.There’s the league to be wrapped up & break another record as the team who has won 14 league championships.We can’t be angry all the time, you are one of our own,u r not angels but humans like us, you are supposed to commit mistakes & rectify them.After all it’s the first time in charge of the team.We can’t forget such appetising football that has been dished out this season by our club.Again on a lighter note let us not underestimate the North African clubs they are very strong look how they performed since we won the competition in 2016.Raja,Wydad,Al Ahly, Esperance,Etoil,ES Tunis&Zamalek they can play dead & only to find that they are very alive.You are fantastic my coaches.
I agree with you Member however the downfall here was that somebody is trying to kill the system and players that did well for us, you can ask any team from the north about Hlompho and they get ill sametime and the 3 coaches put him, Tiyani , Tebogo and Andile on the bench as a matter of destroying them and i talked about this 4 games before this game and they were talking praise to Rivaldo. and now they are fighting Gaston and this boy was far from the 3 free gift goals that were scored by AL Ahly, My advise is that Tiyani Mabunda is better than 5 players you used this season i will not name them as a matter of respect. Lastly never talk too much before or after the game be like Pitso very short, avoid divulging your strategies. next time plan your opponents early and start playing for them if we avoided Al Ahly now and played them in the finals.
This fellow needs to go back to his homeland to coach arrows! He is not a coach for big clue like Sundowns! He is not vocal at all when the team is under pressure! For he is better as an assistant coach rather than a head at Sundowns! It was fine to give him a chance since he has been with the club for so long but going forward i do not think Manqoba has got a clue on how the team should defeat the North Africa teams! The substitutions and first eleven were just not what we wanted! Brian Onyango, Mvala, Alffonso must be give a chance to play against the Arab teams! They have got stamina to fight against those players! But to do so you need to afford them game time as you build momentum towards such games!
Member agree with Manqoba doesn’t deserve to coach at Psl he fail to do what Ncikaz done his 1st seasons as head he like sit quit he must take his seat to the beach watch sea wave
It is very disapoinring when both our diski and senior teams are scored similar goals in the same day in different games. It says a lot regarding the stanard of our couches.
We realy need a couch who can deafet Africa and three wisemen can concetrate to couch the team locally.
Manqoba is the best just he can’t think out of box,he is a programmed coach,no plan B…he is bit a coward that’s why he refused to be head coach….but let’s give them another season and they going to again…I wish we meet Al Alhly again once they beat them for 2nd time then they are good for nothing they must go to Golden Arrows…we can’t be beaten by 1 team for many times, we should not respect northern africa teams….we trailing by 2 goals to nil but you start with one striker …bling bling you remove all the supplies