Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena was full or praise for his players after a 'very difficult' week that ended with the side advancing to the CAF Champions League semi-finals.
With no goals over 180 minutes of action, the match went to a shoot-out which the Brazilians 3-2 but during the course of the match Yanga had a strike off the underside of the bar by Stephane Aziz Ki not awarded.
As the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) stepped in to determine whether it crossed the goal-line, the decision from the man in the middle was that it didn’t and this left coach Gamondi upset.
READ | Sundowns secure Champions League semi-final spot
“I hear him, of course when you lose you see some of the situations but ok let’s congratulate them for being worthy opponents and for the good run in the Champions League after their good run in the Confederation Cup,” Mokwena told SABC Sport post-match.
“They are a good side; they got a lot of very good players and I wish them everything of the best in their domestic competitions for the rest of the season. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club.
“Congratulate the supporters for an incredible turnout today and it’s good for winning, let me congratulate the technical team everybody involved because it was a very difficult week for us, we had juggle in between the travelling.
“In between the game against Richards Bay on Tuesday and we had the manage the sessions, we had a session on Tuesday evening and it was very difficult to maintain focus.
“But in a very difficult week, we managed to win two important games. We beat Richards Bay and we beat Yanga here in the quarter-finals to put ourselves in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
“So, nothing else matters except to congratulate the team and everybody involved, the football club, senior management and of course this tremendous group of players. Was tough for them today, very, very difficult.
“But I’m happy they showed resilience, they stuck it in and pushed, pushed until the end and congratulations to them,” he continued.
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