Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi is pleased with the Tshwane giants’ mentality following their hard-fought win over Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon.
Sundowns came from behind to beat Stellenbosch FC 2-1 in a 2020-21 DStv Premiership match at Danie Craven Stadium.
Peter Shalulile’s stoppage-time winner moved the defending champions four points clear atop the league standings while Stellies remain in ninth spot.
The hosts opened the scoring through Stanley Dimgba but second-half goals from Gaston Sirino and Shalulile, who has now scored four in three matches against the Maroons this season, led the Brazilians to all three points.
“I’m telling you games against Stellenbosch are never easy, structurally, the shape they adopted in the first-half made our lives very difficult, we had to dig very deep to get the result,” Mngqithi said after the match.
“Thanks to all the coaches for the substitutions they made because Aubrey [Modiba]’s cross was the cutting edge and I also believe [Mauricio] Affonso came and gave a good account of himself.
“With Peter in the box you always hope for something when balls fall to that area but credit must be given to them they really gave us a good run for our money and at times in patches they had a very good passing game.
“I think this is how champions are made, I think this is what you want to see in a team that want to be champions or to retain their title. I think they gave a very good account of themselves but honestly speaking the teamwork in the group is very good,” he said.
Mngqithi also pointed a couple incidents that the referee got wrong, which included a penalty appeal inside the first five minutes.
“I was not very happy first-half, I’m never somebody who’s going to be talking about refereeing but I think Gaston’s chance was a clear penalty, Lyle [Lakay]’s ball in the box for me was a handball and a handball inside the box is a penalty,” Sundowns co-coach said.
“But I don’t want to make a meal out of that because I also make mistakes in my line-up, the tactics, we make mistakes but I just felt there were moments, Thapelo [Morena]’s foul in the half-way line for me that was a straight red [card] but unfortunately in football you must take these things because referees are human beings and at times they make mistakes.
“And genuine mistakes just like we also make mistakes but those shouts, for me the Gaston one was the easiest for the referee to make the call but it’s water under the bridge now, we can focus on the next match.”
Stellenbosch FC (1) 1 (Dimgba 33′)
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 2 (Sirino 51′ Shalulile 90+4′)
Stellenbosch FC:Stephens; Van Heerden (Macheke 52′), De Goede (Robertson 66′), Johannes, Mthethwa (Johnson 78′), Sinkala, Jabaar, Mendieta (Skelem 78′), Van Rooyen, Du Preez, Dimgba (Nange 66′).
Mamelodi Sundowns:Onyango; Lakay (Modiba 84′), Nascimento, De Reuck, Morena, Coetzee, Maboe (Domingo 70′), Mkhulise (Jali 84′), Sirino (Erasmus 58′) [Affonso 69′], Zwane, Shalulile.