Mamelodi Sundowns registered their first win in the league since being in the bubble as they defeated Golden Arrows at Dobsonville stadium. The resumption of football has been challenging for the Brazilians. The win is a major boost and has helped close the gap to just three points from the log leaders, Kaizer Chiefs whom Masandawana will face in three days time.
This was a must-win game for both sides. The visitors needed a win to help achieve their goal of making the top eight and Bafana Ba Style needed the points to ensure the gap is not further extended between them and the log leaders. Only four games are left in the season and the push till the end continues.
Coach Pitso Mosimane made a couple of changes to the starting line up, due to some players serving a suspension, Ali Meza, Phakamani Mahlambi, Rivaldo Coetzee, Mosa Lebusa and Kennedy Mweene all made starts this evening.
The intentions were clear from the first whistle as Phakamani Mahlambi found himself in a good position after a good lay-off from Gaston Sirino but his shot could not find the target. The visitor’s defence was kept on their toes by the pace and off the ball movement of Meza but he could not get the opportunity to find the back of the net. Rivaldo Coetzee had the perfect chance and it looked like it would go in, but the brilliance of Sifiso Mlungwana kept the ball from going all the way as he finger-tipped the ball over the bar.
The first half ended with both sides locked at 0-0. Arrows had the majority of ball possession in the second half but could not convert into clear goal-scoring opportunities as the yellow wall at the back stood firm and ensured that nothing went past.
Coach Pitso called on the experience of the senior players when he brought on Themba Zwane and Keletso Makgalwa for Sirino and Mahlambi, that brought some urgency to the side as the two substitutes interchanged passes but ended up in each others way before a shot could be taken.
The game looked like it was going to be another draw but a move made from the bench resulted in a goal. A perfect pass made by substitute Lebohang Maboe and Zwane calmly slotted it past Mlungwane. Maboe had just been on the pitch for seven minutes after he came on for Meza, ensuring a well-deserved win for the Brazilians.
Next up is Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday at Orlando Stadium at 18:00, the game will be broadcasted on SuperSport 4
How we lined up:
Mweene, Ngcongca, Lebusa, Madisha, Lakay, Coetzee, Kekana, Mahlambi (66′ Makgalwa), Mkhulise (83′ Vilakazi), Sirino (66′ Zwane), Meza(83′ Maboe)
Subs: Pieterse, Makgalwa, Mabunda, Zwane, Vilakazi, Mkhuma, Maboe, Soumahoro, Langerman
What a moment of brilliant for Downs family. All the players, management, supporters; long for this win. I was touched. But it came as no surprise to some of us. Sundowns should, and will never be reduced to a mediocre club. The minute Pitso started changing his charges and game plan, I knew it was gonna happen some ways. For the next game, mental fitness is what matters. They (Chiefs) are under so much tremendous pressure now. They can feel the rhythm coming, unlike that 9 points gap, it wasn’t healthy for PSL contention, especially when Downs is involved. Hoola Yellow Nation….!!!
As for Arrows, what was Kompela and his charges thinking by parking that bus. Did they really believe they going to hold Downs for 90 minutes and deny them access to the poles. If it was their intention,they learnt the hard way then. Next time they must grow balls and take the game to Sundowns
I always believe on Downs and never give up…
Good win,the Mahlambi and Meza combination should be continued.Changes needed,Zwane to play the Makhulise role,Mkhulise to play Serino role because he can run with the ball and take on players better than Sirino and AJ to partner Coetzee,Kekana is tired and finished,can’t even pass or cross the ball at his retiring age. The Lebusa and Madisha combination played better bcoz Lebusa play safety first soccer doesn’t try to be fancy at the back when under pressure like Nascimento and Madisha.I think Nascimento can help us better in the middle with his accurate passes unklike Kekana.If we can win all our remaining 5 games we ca win treble which is possible.
#The sky is the limit I always support downs no matter wat
Thanks for the win and I would like to commend Mweene for his distribution of the ball early to our players, that what is lacking on Onyango every time when he caches the ball he waited for all the players to be cleared around him instead of catching them offguard hope our goalkeeper coach can teach him on that,Mweene do exactly like Khune of which is good,coming back to our captain I wonder what’s happening on him nowadays his form is fading tremendously I think he needs a rest our coach is overloading him,Kby forever
Thank you Masandawana for the win, now against chiefs, let us not put us under pressure, let us also not over respect chiefs , they are just like any other team that we can beat, teams that beat chiefs throw the their brand away and focus on their weak players on the field.In other words let us not be intimidated by the name Kaizer Chiefs, that team is weak compared to their teams before and we can easily beat them of course with the right mind and attitude.We must not defend deep but we must have a defensive block but not to be conservative in our approach , let us attack them because they don’t feel comfortable when attacked.If we happen to score first , they will expect us to sit back, but we should wage another shock wave of attack and attack after attack, will collapse them i tell you.Celtics could have scored more than six goals against them if only they were clinical in their shots. So the trick is to field players who can run and cause havoc into their defense but with purpose. Lastly thank you Moboe for your pin point crossing that gave us the goal from Mshishi. Vele your position is somewhere upfront, though preferable for me , I like it when you play as an attacking midfielder.
The Meza-Mahlambi combination can do damage to a lot of teams,both r quick unlike Maboe and Villa….they jst need to be given the same treatment dat has been given to Maboe and Vilakazi for in da last 2 seasons
Hello masandawana, I really want to thank the boys for a much needed win and our goal keeper did better than onyango. we played well but I think Rivaldo still not good in the middle but it was a good game .
Please to the coming game of chiefs can we use Anthony laffor he can help us be fair coach remember you are doing that for the team not for you
Hello masandawana, I really want to thank the 9boys for a much needed win and our goal keeper did better than onyango. we played well but I think Rivaldo still not good in the middle but it was a good game .
Well done boyz….We behind you tll last game of the season. KBY forever!
If we approach that game
with a positive mind
We can win that game
If we enjoy it, it must be
played on sprit of a cup
Final
Thanks 4 the 3 points boys
This is my contribution guys: The Meza and Mahlambi combination must not be broken against Chiefs! They are both fast and good dribblers! The Chiefs’s defence is very slow and if they are up against pace forwards they might find the going tough. Secondly we must play a passing game, keeping the ball on the ground. We must avoid just kicking the ball forward for the strikers to chase! Chiefs are just are good in high balls and they will always want to get free kicks near the opposite goal area so that they can use their tall players to their advantage! But if we keep the ball on the ground and stretch them on the wings, they look so ordinary and very weak. If our coach can just look at how Celtic played against Chiefs and implement the same kind of play, we sweep this Chiefs team away. We have got the personnel who can play that type of Celtic game! Chiefs usually kick the ball forward for their big strikers to hassle and destroy the opposition teams! We must avoid playing into their strength! Good luck to the team tomorrow! We should go for a win and not a draw!
I think Petros is right Laffor can get us a goal, we know age problem but he can score and create. Combination of Meza and Mahlambi is Good.
Sometimes we select
wrong players for wrong
games eg in a game
against pirates the select
of our central midfielders
was incorrect
We picked Coetzee & Keke
On one v one our
midfielders were
Lacking pace , dribbling
They were missin tackles
Their passes were intercepted & they made
a lot back passes , were
unable to track the players who were making
One twos
I say this with a great
respect…….