Head coach Rulani Mokwena says ten-man Mamelodi Sundowns were wasteful against Golden Arrows on Wednesday evening.
Despite playing a man short following Mosa Lebusa’s red-card a minute in the second half, the Brazilians still missed numerous chances to get another win on the board with 19 shots at goal.
The likes of Thembinkosi Lorch, Marcelo Allende, Junior Mendieta, Matias Esquivel and Peter Shalulile were the guilty parties as the champions dropped points.
READ | Sundowns' winning run halted by Komphela's Arrows
“Yeah, I don’t think I understand how we go into halftime 0-0. I mean, so many chances I was counting at one point I stopped, I think it should’ve been 5-0. And then, we worked on a kick-off routine and it didn’t come out,” Mokwena told SuperSport TV.
“It was my idea to be honest because of how deep their line is and the rest defence was not so good but you know when the quicker it goes forward- the quicker it will come back and then you got to re-organise and then the red card I take it even though I speak to the players now and they said ‘ah, coach we shouldn’t have allowed it to bounce’ but ok its football.
“Then, it’s 10 v 11 but there’s still one team on the pitch and that’s why (Ismail) Watenga is man of the match. We still created more chances, Marcelo there with the short-corner there he should score. So, it was just one of those games where the ball didn’t go into the back of the net.
“But I think relatively a very good performance from us, very offensive, chance after chance. But maybe too wasteful in front of goal and that’s probably my biggest disappointment but I’m very proud of the character, spirit, mentality of this group is very good.
With the season nearing an end, the action doesn’t stop for Masandawana and the coach knows this all too well as they intend to end the season on a high.
“Oh, yeah of course we have to be professionals. We have to finish the league the way we started it, with the same vigour, intensity and like I said to you, we have to take our chances. These are the type of games where you got to take your chances and especially in the first half.
“In the first half, we had so many situations. Esquivel had two clear-cut chances, should score, Lorch should score, Mshishi should score ok but these things happen. What I can praise and admire is the courage, character, determination and what I’m very proud that even against a ten men away from home, we’re able to put in a performance like that,” Mokwena said.
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