Mamelodi Sundowns’ bid to defend their Nedbank Cup crown came to an end on Sunday afternoon when they suffered defeat to Tshakhuma FC on penalties in the semi-finals. The two sides, who met earlier in the month in the DStv Premiership, could not be separated after two hours of football and needed to resort to a shootout to see which team would book their spot in the final to take on Chippa United. Ultimately, it was the team from Thohoyandou who came out on top, winning in the shootout after scoring all six of their spot kicks.
Coming into the tie, The Brazilians faced a relatively short turn around after their quarter-final victory over Orlando Pirates on Thursday night. Three players from that victory were missing from the Starting XI with Lebohang Maboe, Mosa Lebusa and Denis Onyango being replaced by Ricardo Goss, Ricardo Nascimento and Lesedi Kapinga.
The game started at a fair pace, with Masandawana controlling the possession but remaining wary of the threat on the counter-attack from TTM. The first clear cut chance of the day came after ten minutes when Lesedi Kapinga’s curled effort was saved by Washington Arubi in goals. That save set the tone for the next 120-minutes as the TTM shot-stopper put in an inspired performance to deny the likes of Sirino, Lakay and Vilakazi who all had chances to give the lead to Bafana Ba Style. At the other end, Goss was left relatively untroubled as the defence in front of him did their job.
Early in the second half the technical team pulled the trigger as they switched up the approach and brought on Lyle Lakay who created a host of scoring opportunities. Sibusiso Vilakazi, Hlompho Kekana and Brian Onyango all made their way onto the field in the bid to make the difference but it was not to be.
After an extra time period that followed the style of the regulation period it was left to a penalty shootout to decide which team would progress to the final. The first ten spot kicks were flawless with both teams not budging. Enter sudden-death and it was The Brazilians who missed first allowing TTM the opportunity to win the match which they took.
The result brings an end to an eight match winning streak in the Nedbank Cup and leaves Bafana Ba Style competing in the domestic league and the CAF Champions League for this season. Up next, a midweek fixture against AmaZulu as Mamelodi Sundowns look to kick on in the league.
What the technical team find interesting about Goss? Every time, I see this man in the goal post, I know that we will have bad result, he is not a Sundowns material, look how he played during penalties, he jumped left and right even before players kick the ball, and he was saved by the defense during the game as they were strong today. I prefer Mwene or the young goalkeeper as Onyango backup than him and the other useless goalkeeper, Peterseen, they both need to be transfer to lower division teams.
Once we went to penalties I knew we did not have a chance, I have nothing against Goss but the boy was not serious during penalties, he was just laughing, did not try intimidate opponents, He looked clueless, I’m not bitter cos we lost, but that was observation and I’m sure most of masandawana saw that too
The technical team must take a blame their first eleven was not good , you can’t Kapinga and the formation was not good my understanding is that Maboe was suspended that’s where the change should have been. Something is wrong about Sirino
As much as we lost I don’t blame the players they tried its only their goalkeeper that was stood between us and them, he saved them big time and it was one of games where will loose.
TTM never troubled our defenders but theirs were discipline especially Arubi.
Even though We lost but I have a little complain and that was Sirino I don’t know who told him he’s a star,I mean yhe guy is just walking on the field and too casual creating many mistakes and the worst of it all Our Wisemen keep on selecting him in every games not even put him on the bench to start there,maybe the guy is no longer wants to play for us since he wanted to join Pitso. Now I’m starting for him to be injured for the rest of the season because he’s annoying and I know he doesn’t select himself, (pls forgive me on that wish),lastly Kapinga is good but he must put power behind the ball not to pass the goalkeeper,Kby forever
I agree with you member Sirino was not serious, he was wasting the possession.
I meant I’m praying for him to be injured
You’re quite right about Sirino member. I think management should’ve let him go when Pitso wanted him. I also did say the same thing on this website when there was an article about Al Ahly wanting him. We shouldn’t be standing on players’ way when they want to pursue their careers elsewhere. There’s no player who’s irreplaceable. Now we’ll be stuck with him for another 4 years until he’s 34.
I’m disappointed members caz we did have chances to score but we didn’t score, zwane have chance and villa .the fact that we beat pirates 4 and to score against ttm is disappointing caz now we fail to defend Pitso’s cup
Luck was not on our side yesterday,but my concern was how we approached the game.In the absence of Maboe Lakay should have started as left back and Modiba in the middle,he is more effective there as he did against Chippa.To the technical team,i think the demand of the game should influence how you want a team to play and also the substitution you make,and your substitutions should take the team to the higher level,not because someone scored in the previous game.The only challenge we had was finishing and attacking constantly.I didn’t see any sense in replacing Modiba with Kekana because at that stage we needed someone who could help Shaulile to put pressure on TTM’s defense,run with the ball and also penetrate them,and the only two options were Motupa and Mkuma or did you think Kekana could change the complexion of the game,take on players and add numbers going forward?.Kekana is needed when we are winning with less pressure like against Pirates,then we were on cruize control.Kapinga is more effective coming from the bench,can’t deal with the demand of pressing for 30 minutes,he is not that strong.One of Mkhuise or Riva should have bee sacrificed in the second half of extra time for an attacking player.I think had we put more pressure the would have cracked.One last thing,your job as technical team is to make sure the team wins cups,play good football and built the team by playing youngsters and so far you have only succeeded in one thing,playing good football.Last season Makgalwa and Mkhuma helped us win both Nedbank and the league when Sirino was suspended by the league and Zwane was injured and also off form,we thought the season they would be our shining stars and continue winning us trophies but they have regressed under you leadership and we are the only team in the PSL which don’t believe in youngsters.No one can finish better than Makgalwa in SA,you must ask Notoane and Moriri on how to utilize those boys.Mkhuma can take on players with no fear which is what we lacked yesterday and he is also dead ball specialist.We don’t want to end up the season like Pirates under Papic,they ran and terrorized the teams for the better part of that season but,ended the season trophy less.Let’s focus now on Wednesday game.That is my point of view.
To the Sundowns Coaching team and the players thank you guys for all the trouble that you go through to make us happy as Sundowns fans .The game of football will always be a matter of win or loose .it doesn’t matter how ungrateful and hurt we are but the truth will remain that during your preparations and the hard work that the players put in during the game is meant for positive results .
hardy yellow people .SUNDOWNS STILL REMAINS THE BEST PREPARED TEAM IN THE DSTV PREMIERSHIP . KEEP YOUR HEADS UP GUYS YOU ARE DOING A MARVELOUS JOB.
Why the technical team do not use Jody February in the absence of Onyango? This Goss is costing us a lot, every time I see him in goal post, I know that we will bad result, I cannot even defend a penalty, he should be transferred t lower division.
Good service, please check Judy February performance as far as penalty catch is very good since under twenty three international and even better than Muyeen who happens to be better that the rest. That was our weakest link.