Mamelodi Sundowns shared the spoils with Black Leopards as they drew one-all at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The visitors scored a late goal to equalise after Mosa Lebusa put Masandawana into the lead early in the first half. The Brazilians were without striker Peter Shalulile who was suspended and that was the only change that happened to the starting eleven.
The visitors were the first ones to take a jab at Sundowns as a pass played to Ovidy Karuru found him unmarked but his shot went over the bar with only Denis Onyango to beat. Ten minutes in, Mosa Lebusa rose highest at the near post as he headed home the opener for the day from a Lyle Lakay corner. Themba Zwane had a chance to extend the lead but his shot was saved by Mendes in the Leopards goal. Lyle Lakay had another opportunity but his resulting free-kick could only sail above the poles. Chances kept on coming but the final touch was not there, Gaston Sirino saw his shot blocked by the defender. The first stanza ended with Masandawana leading by a solitary goal.
“Mshishi” and Sirino showed some neat touches at the beginning of the second half and Zwane could not beat the Lidoda Duvha keeper who was on par to make another save. Lebo Maboe saw his curling effort just missing the target in the fifty-fourth minute.
Onyango had a quiet game and in the seventy-eighth, he was called upon to make a rare save as he punched a well-taken corner.
With ten minutes to go, substitute Roderick Kabwe scored to make the score one all with Leopards’ first attempt on target of the afternoon.As a result the spoils were shared in the capital city and head into the international break having reached the forty-point mark in the league.
How we lined up: Onyango, Morena, De Reuck, Lebusa, Lakay, Jali, Coetzee (Modiba 74′),Mkhulise (Mkhuma 64′), Sirino (Domingo 69′), Zwane, Maboe (Makgalwa 69′)
Subs: Goss, Modiba, Domingo, Nascimento, Mudau, Makgalwa, Affonso, Mkhuma, Madau 64′)
It was a very disappointing game ,yes we didn’t loose but we lost two points at the dying minutes
Not a train smash but,we should have widened the gab.Truth be told we dropped points from the bench,we made wrong substitute and correct introductions.Riva and Mkhulise were not in the game at all,even Maboe after injury to Khumalo was out,instead Zwane who was the only player tormenting Leopards players,controlling the game and making us look dangerous all the time was replaced.He should have stayed to complement those introduced skilful players,I think Mkhuma,Makgalwa and Domingo would have made a great contribution had Zwane played around them.We were toothless after he was replaced and ultimately Leopards gained confidence I think we should inject more pace to our game and also improve our finishing,those two aspects will have adverse impact on our quest to winning games convincingly and win trophies.
Even our webmaster was so ashamed to post this article earlier, I was so sad about yesterday game we should won that game by at least seven goals and I blame our Technical staff together with players for underestimating Leopards a team that is fighting relegation.
Our co-coaches were just sitting on the bench not even shouting at the players who were too casually even on the box I don’t know maybe they’re afraid of them.Nice and possession football doesn’t win you games but goals and I doubt ukuthi we will reach Champs league semi final with this mentality.
At Downs players are converted too much whereas we have strikers look at Affonso he sat on the bench the whole game and we also have Gift Motupa,during the week we’re told about Vila but he was not even on the eighteen man squad, Pls my lovely Wisemen change your behavior if you want to keep your job even beyond next season and stop favoritism.
Very poor performance to say the least.There-so called senior players looking too casual in the box. Mkhulise need to show hunger of being in the starting eleven,no automatic qualification. As for the coaches,how can you have all players who are still adjusting to the team play, played at once. Mkhuma,Domingo, Modiba, was just not going to combine without mshishi
Why change 5 player instead substituted just necessary that changes destabilize momentum u can change 5 if leading at least 3to 4 nil to others game time 1 nil too risk
exactly member.Maybe our team is just use to unnecessary pressure of having to collect maximum points in the last three, four games of the league
A very poor game indeed! Players were too casual! They played as if Leopards did not exist! Both the three wise men and the players should take blame! We usually play with an out and out strikers these days but this was changed for whatever reason! The injury to Kermit and non availability of Shalulile does not translate to say we do not have other strikers! Affonso and Gift Motopa and Vilakazi needed to be given a chance in the absence of our regular strikers! Our pace was just too slow and casual! With this kind of approach we may not reach the semi final of the CAF Champions league! we do not have to discard completely our senior players! Instead a combination of experience and youth will give us results. We did a huge favour to the chasing pack by failing to win such an easy game! Kekana, Vilakazi and Gift must be brought back into the team. Riva still does not convince me in that midfield position! Good luck to the boys in the next encounter! How can we complain about the players being tired yet we have so much players that can be given a chance if these ones who have been playing are tired! No! i do not agree with assessment coach Manqoba!