Mamelodi Sundowns and Petro de Luanda lock horns in the quarter finals of the CAF Champions League for a second time in seven days. The Brazilians host the Southern African team at the FNB Stadium on Saturday for a spot in the semi-final, Downs Left footer Lyle Lakay emphasised on the importance of winning the encounter.
“As everybody knows, we lost that side but we got the away goal [which] was something which we wanted, however the results were not what we wanted. Obviously we have to rectify it this side, it’s a must win for us, we going all out to win on Saturday and go through to the semi-finals.”
“I don’t think one goal is enough, we have to score more than one and obviously [make sure that] they dint score. Even though we need just one goal to win, as players we went over the previous game that we played in Luanda and we’ve identified our mistakes, like the goals that they scored. The goals that we conceded were errors, we got punished, but we have to rectify that and go into the match knowing that we have to win and we have to qualify.”
Petro finished in second place in their group stages campaign with 11 points and currently dominate the Girabola league top of the log standing. Masandawana have clashed with the Angolans on five previous occasions and both teams have two wins apiece, while the other match ended in a draw.
“We’ve played them before, I think about two or three years ago in the group stages and they are a completely different team with a different style of play. We did our analysis and we identified a few of them. For example, their striker, Tiago [Azulão] his movement and also the other guys. We also analysed their away games that they played in the group stages, I think they play a different game away to when they play at home.” Said Lakay.
Bafana Ba Style enjoyed a successful run in their continental campaign this season, finishing top of Group A without defeat. Lakay expressed the constraint that comes with their over the top performances.
“There’s always pressure at Sundowns, if you look at the way in which we finished in the group stages, people obviously took a bit of that and believe gat we can go all the way. In the camp as well, there’s more belief compared to last season and the year before that we can go all the way and for me personally, I believe that we can turn the results around on Saturday and we can go to the semi-finals.”
“We have to be weary of their pace, but at the end if the day if we stick to our game we will become victorious. The mandate is to win the Champions League, personally I will redeem it as failure [not to win the Champions League].”
The winner of the battle between Sundowns and Petro will secure their place in the semifinal against either CR Belouizdad or Wydad AC. Masandawana are expecting to have the support of the Yellow Nation at the FNB Stadium as the Angolans were cheered on by their fans to defeat the Tshwane giants.
“It’s very important to have the 12th man, as much as it encourages us and for the away team it makes them become a bit hostile and that helps us. It’s very important for us and I hope the supporters come to the game.”
Mamelodi Sundowns do battle with Petro de Luanda on Saturday, 23 April in the CAF Champions League leg 2 of 2. Kick off is 18H00, live on SuperSport channel 209.
Very poor game and the guys missed a lot of goals. and why you coaches keep on using zwane to take penalties even though he disappoint us, we lost to maritzburg because he miss the penalty and now we out of caf Caz he missed a penalty again no guys this has to stop. We love this team and pitso said it after we beat him twice “let’s see who’s going to the final and win it not repeat the Psg”