Shalulile the Hero in Crucial Victory over AS Maniema Union

Mamelodi Sundowns emerged victorious against AS Maniema Union in a 2-1 CAF Champions League thriller on Saturday afternoon at the Stade de Martyrs in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is all thanks to Peter Shalulile and a last-gasp own goal that saw Masandawana clinch the second position in the Group B standings.

The visitors almost saw a breakthrough early in the game with a glorious opportunity from Arthur Sales. He was able to break the line to shoot but his chance went wide. A few more chances came through from Masandawana, with good opportunities of breaking the off-side traps set by the hosts.

The Greens and Black retaliated through a free header which came from a dangerous cross but the chance went slightly over the bar. They continued posing threats and sending the Downs’s defense to work several times.

Eventually, Masandawana started looking dangerous after the half-hour mark, with a big chance played between Sales, and Iqraam Rayners, and was finished with Lucas Ribeiro. Ribeiro was, however, not able to get it right as his shot went wide. Teboho Mokoena was also near with his special shot from range but slightly missed the box as the ball went over the bar.

Just before the break, Maniema Union managed to capitalize from miscommunication between the Downs’s defense as they drove the ball to the danger box. The ball was toe-poked into the net, seeing Masandawana trailing with a goal at the break.

Upon return of play, the hosts picked up where they left off with the momentum as they looked to double their advantage, but the Downs’ defense was denying them an opportunity.

After the hour mark, Masandawana was looking a bit promising, following a few substitutions to get something out of this game. Mokoena didn’t stop testing the hosts’ goalkeeper with his long-range shots and Thapelo Morena joined the party by rattling the goalkeeper.

Another player who posed a lot of threat to the opponent was Peter Shalulile, especially in the final stages of the encounter. In the 83rd minute, he positioned himself in the right way to receive a long shot from Mokoena. He then headed the ball in, to help his side level matters.

A lead was snatched from the hosts through a last-gasp goal engineered by Shalulile. As the Greens and Blacks tried to block him from finding the back of the net again, their defense was seen toe-poking the ball into the net themselves, which became the winning goal for the visitors. Masandawana will return home to prepare for their last game in the group stages, which they will play at home against ASFAR next weekend.

How we lined up: Williams ©, Morena, Kekana, Lebusa, Allende, Mkhulise, Mokoena, Lunga, Ribeiro, Rayners, Sales.

Subs: Onyango, Khoza, Mashego, Johannes, Maema, Saavedra, Letlhaku, Matthews, Shalulile.

4 Responses
  1. Muzi Kunene

    Can someone enlighten me regarding Nassir,is he still our player or he was sold to S.United why I’m asking this is because that boy is very good and he can compliment Rayners quite good if he comes back or we can recall Ighodaro.
    Yesterday I’ve read that Lebo Mothibi was seen at Chloorkop hope we also sign him .How I wish we can release the ill discipline (Modau)and sign Matuludi or convert Aubaas to that position to compete with Morena.
    Khuliso will not change his behaviour I’m afraid of var with his attitude.

    Sihole Cardoso and We are fully behind you,lastly I heard a nice song our fellow supporters sang by him in Dbn and Cape Town hope even in Loftus we will continue that song that was created for him.

  2. DOWNS4EVER

    I concur with you member,I don’t know if it’s because of injuries but Nassir is a special talent pacey and skilful,we could do more damage to opponents with him and Rayners.My biggest worry is we have aged central defenders and we don’t seem to be doing anything about it, we need two young energetic central defenders.With Ighadaro I don’t know what does he have to do to convince the team that he’s a very good talented striker but mostly I blame our previous coaches,they even chased our young talent in Makgalwa and Mkuma away.

  3. Dalom

    Good first half with Mkhulise dictating our midfield. It’s so surprising that he was substituted in the 1st half. We should’ve been 2 goals to the good in the 1st 15 minutes, but that Flemming’s R63 million flop missed the sitter with the goal at his mercy. I’m beginning to think that Flemming is the one who’s selecting the starting 11 because it doesn’t make sense that Sales can start ahead of Shalulile. I read with heartache that Manqoba had to fight to get Rayners, when Flemming is getting his flops at an exorbitant prices at will. If Mudau was playing, that team wouldn’t even have scored, which clearly highlights the defending capabilities or lack thereof of Morena. I really feel for Rayners, the boy is running all over the pitch with no service at all. It was so surprising that both goals came Mokoena and Allende, the kings of back/side-ways passes. Maybe Cardoso is doing something because I was beginning to think that he’s coaching with a drive’s license. We’re no longer creating much scoring chances like we were doing under Manqoba, which should be the biggest concern. I welcome Jayden Adams in advance, the boy is going to give our midfield the much needed direction. I so wish we can also get Toure from Stellies to stabilise our defence.

  4. DOWNS4EVER

    You will never score goals when you play most of the game in your own half,this silly playing from the back without purpose is limiting our creativity. Put more offensive players and the defenders always rotate the ball at back with the keeper.Those two goals we scored are the same as the goal we scored last season by Mandieta from Mkhulise,I think it was against Richards Bay. The sooner we change that nonsense style the better.I loathe copy cats why can’t we come with our own style that suits our players than copying other teams style of play ? We must always play on the front than wait until we concede to play forward football, we are staving our offensive players when we constantly play at the back and also over working them because they are forced to come and collect the ball in the middle or even at the back.

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