Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane was delighted with his sides attitude during their 2-1 victory over Maritzburg United in the Absa Premiership on Saturday.
The Brazilians extended their unbeaten run to five games after collecting all three points against the Team of Choice when Gaston Sirino and a late goal from Lyle Lakay cancelled out Siyanda Xulu’s equaliser early in the second half.
The wins saw Sundowns move up to third place in the league standings with 11 points while Maritzburh remain winless in 15th place with just two points.
‘The attitude was different, even if we didn’t win this match, I like the will to win, the fight. You will always be rewarded in football, in instances like this. Much better performance than Wednesday, not lethargic but fighting,’ Mosimane told SuperSport TV after the game.
The Sundowns mentor laments his side missed chances while shared his thoughts on how his side conceded through a Siyanda Xulu header.
‘It was not easy because Eric [Tinkler] plays with five people at the back. The problem was that the guy marking [Judas] Moseamedi was [Tiyani] Mabunda and he was stretched off with a stretcher. You know how football is, it’s a funny game. The ball fell to him,’ he added
‘I would not blame them that much. The ball fell to Moseamedi [Xulu]. ‘Sugar’ [Mabunda] was marking him and he was out, so it’s football. It’s a funny game, it will punish you. [The ball] will go exactly where ‘Sugar’ was. It’s part of the game.
‘I’m happy we created chances, the funny one is that I can’t believe Phakamani [Mahlambi] missed the ball on the goal line, I mean it’s very funny. That one myself I put it in. He went over the ball. But they created chances. You want a team that creates chances. Of course we’re not happy that [we] missed chances but Themba Zwane should have scored also. [Jose] Ali Meza had a one-on-one with the goalkeeper but when a team creates chances it’s okay. They are trying to play, especially against a team that came here played with five people at the back.
‘The only way they could score was on a corner-kick or long throw-in. There was no other way they could score. I’m happy with my centre-backs. [Motjeka] Madisha had a fantastic game, Mosa Lebusa had a fantastic game; well timed tackles, they defended very well.
‘Yes it was on the edge, we scored late but I’m the coach, I look at football totally different to anybody who says, “ah they scrapped through whatever”, you know how many times I’ve lost a match in the last minute? In Chippa [United] in the 90th minute they equalised. We lost so many games at the end, so it’s our time to benefit. When you score at the end it means you’re fighting and Lyle [Lakay] with a right foot, unbelievable! Tonight, we deserve it,’ Mosimane concluded.
