The Brazilians unbeaten run of seventeen games ended after AmaZulu won 1-0 in Monday night’s DStv Premiership clash.
It was kick-off under the rainy weather conditions at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium, with both sides looking to get an early goal to settle into the encounter. Masandawana started well, controlling the game in the opening stages, Sphelele Mkhulise had the first opportunity to test Neil Boshoff of Usuthu, but let down as his shot went off target.
After a sequence of counter attack football from both sides, Downs Goalie Denis Onyango made an incredible save from Thabo Qalinge’s long range attempt that was on target. Bafana Ba Style’s attempt to find an opening goal continued with build up from the back, but the hosts defense was tight. Rivaldo Coetzee’s game was cut short before the half time break as the midfielder was taken off after a muscle pull that could not see him finish off the game.
Usuthu looked dangerous on the counter as the interval approached, racing into the Downs half off the back of their counter pressing, though they couldn’t fashion a chance as Masandawana regained position. A battle for possession took place heading into the break as both teams struggled to register a goal.
It was a bright start full of intent and ambition in the second half with AmaZulu set to test the Onyango, the Ugandan international goalie was prepared for the attempt from Thembela Sikhakhane.
The Brazilians were gathered around Usuthu’s defence, Pavol Safranko was next to go close, forcing a save from Boshoff after great build up play involving Peter Shalulile and Mkhulise. With just 15 minutes left on the clock, the hosts took the lead. Usuthu’s substitute Austin Mulenga found the back of the net after Luvuyo Memrla played a long ball which caught Downs defence off guard.
Bafana Ba Style looked for a route back into the game with just over 10 minutes remaining and were nearly handed a lifeline from a set piece. Lyle Lakay stepped up and connected the ball to the far post with Shalulile waiting, but an intercept ended the attack. The Brazilians were in search of an equalizer, however there was less fortune for the defending Champions as the referee blew the whistle for full time after multiple attempts by the visitors to share the spoils.
This is how we lined up: D. Onyango, A. Jali, T. Zwane, P. Safranko, L. Lakay, R.Coetzee (23′ Mvala), R. De Reuck, T. Morena, P. Shalulile, R. Nascimento, S. Mkhulise (75′ Maema)
R. Goss, M. Mvala, B. Onyango, L. Kapinga,N. Maema A. Modiba, S.Vilakazi, G. Maluleka, S. Ngobeni.
We’ve always had slow defenders at Sundowns and the defeat yesterday can’t be attributed to Nascimento. I can’t remember Sundowns having quick defenders. The very same Lebusa was supposed to have been red-carded against Royal AM when he was left for dead by Potsane. These coaches just need to rotate the team, the team that finished against Pirates should’ve started. Maema comes back from injury and he walks back straight into the team when the likes of Modiba, Ngobeni and Kapinga really played well against Pirates. How many trophies have we won with Nascimento playing in that cenyral defence? We just don’t have the coaches on thise three, period.
The only time we play great football is against Pirates, otherwise we’re just an ordinary team that I don’t even see challenging the CAF Champions League. People shouldn’t be fooled by our dominance in the PSL, our league is pathetic. We also have average players in abundance in that team and we’ve been playing directionless football for the past seven or six matches bar the Orlando Pirates game
Some people really dont know what they want. This Sundowns team is so good and organised so because of its dominance the league has suddenly become pathetic. Just one loss the three coaches have become useless but I put my head on the block these crop of players will bring back the CAF Champions league trophy. KBY I remain
Hard lucky Guys l guess it was going to come one day. It’s painful but we can’t do anything about it we as supporters cause no one lesson. I don’t mind loosing but we must loose with dignity. It is disappointing. we heard the Coach after the game come out the last few games have taken alot to the players. You spend hours with players you know them well with their sharpness and you do not change tactics . So my question to the Coaches why don’t refresh air team play other players who are fresh and you don’t even make Subtutes. You can make five replacement. But in your head, your mind and soul you know exactly what is the problem. I think 3 things favoritism lake of experience or they are too comfortable an
Our technical team has 2 sides like a coin,the other side is good and the other one is awful,you just don’t know which of their side is going to prevail in the game.Let me put you the loop,against Ahly in the 1st leg of champions league away they showed bravery and played with 2 strikers,created many chances and performed well,come 2nd leg home they play with 1 striker when we needed 2 goals.Against Supersport we’re leading 2-0 they make early substitution and last night when we chasing a game they make 1 late substitute when we needed more.Against Baroka we got red card they changed a system to more offensive and against Pirates we got an injury,they change a system to be more offensive and we said bravo to that moves.Last night the team was struggling in terms of mobility and creativity,the introduced a player who lacks mobility and creativity and can’t even pass the ball.We have a cowards of a technical team,the team needed to be refreshed last night after playing a high intensity game against Pirates but they used the same tired players who played 3 games in 9 days and expected them to perform miracles.Players like Safranko were not in the game but played 95 minutes.We loose or draw games because our technical team is very poor and cowards.We only needed Modiba to play where Mkhulise was playing and partner Mkhulise with Jali after Riva’s injury and replace Safranko with Maema early.You only use Mvala to protect the results of the game not to make your score goals,the guy can’t pass or trap the ball.Those with who have catch up can watch the game again,Mvala lost the ball more than all the players who played 93 minutes,even Jali loses possession too much,the needs to be changed in our next game including the keeper,we can’t wait for those old keepers to retire to introduce our future keepers,I’ve noticed that the technical team is not pulling the same weight and each of them has his favourite players and they trying to balance their players by compromising the success of the team.I bet my year’s salary we’ll never win champions league under this technical team who don’t believe in young players hence they want to 34 year old player,we’ll only dominate PSL because we have competing with 15 very weak teams.
Losing is not nice, but it was going to happen at some point and its a fact that the technical team won’t get it right always. Its just not fair to always find something or someone to blame every time we lose. I believe coaches spent more time with players than us here and there’s a reason and probably the criteria they use to chose one player over another. I always hear people talking about favoritism here, I think its just speculations. Let’s rally behind the team and support them irrespective. We will bounce back
Guys let’s learn to accept any results of the game,thina lana at Downs we don’t think than any results other than the win,no team had ever achieved that only Arsenal but there were also draws even Bayern Munich and PSG are winning the leagues non stop they loose and draw during the season.
Last week when we beat Pirates people were saying Downs is too good to play here in SA,the Dstv league is ours make no mistake about that and there’s no way we can win all games which will make 90 points,mina the points I’m expecting is 76 to surpass our 71 points we achieved,even we can get another coach or recall Pitso we will drwa and loose along the the season but will take the league.
Mina what I don’t like like about our Wisemen nowadays is late sustitution nothing else,this league is ours but let’s stop accusing them when things not go on our side because all the teams came prepared notbto donate points,pls don’t be angry and insult me but the game is like that,win,draw and loose I repeat no team is invincible, Kby forever.
MUZI you 100.percent correctly no team in the world guaranteed to win every game our players are gud enough been winning so manny game just 1 loose we blamed them Nascimento a top class player only 1 thing i criticized to substitute Mkhulise not matter even perform well thats unfair demoralized player that
Guys watch the game bt AL Ahly and Raja Casablanca on SS9! What a game!