Mosimane - Missed chances let us down

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane was happy with his team performance but unhappy with the results of the game. Sundowns displayed spectacular football dominating the game from first minute of the game to the last minute of the game. Sundowns should have gone to the interval leading after Lebohang Mokoena missed a clear cut chances with Senzo Meyiwa whilst Surprise Moriri also missed a seater with man if the match Senzo Meyiwa already on the ground but managed to make world class save to keep Orlando Pirates in the game.

“It is a cup game and anything is possible. It was a job well done to VV (Vladimir Vermezovic) and wishes him all of the best in the Nedbank Cup.  We dominated the entire game.  We play proper football they way football should be played. We created many chances. The chances felt on Surprise Moriri but he couldn’t convert them. I made two forced substitutions of Khama Billiat and Mzikayise Mashaba due to injuries but the third substitute introducing Cuthbert Malajila was a tactical change searching for the equalizing goal which never came.”

Mosimane believed that the penalty in the 5 minutes of the game destabilise his game plan but he was worried with 5 seconds reaction from the referee Robert Smith to award Pirates a goal, but he gave credit to Meyiwa for brave and heroic performance.

“We conceded a penalty in the first 5 minutes of the game and we were in the back foot. We showed respect to the game. We did everything to win the game. I am happy with the performance but unhappy with the results. This is football and you’re bound to lose the game. Real Madrid has lost its last game against Borussia Dortmund and now I have been informed that Barcelona lost its league game against Granada.  We tried to win the game but its cup game and anything can happen. We play to win but circumstances prevent us from the winning especial conceding a penalty within 5 minutes of the game but Meyiwa did well which justify his man of the match accolade.”

Mosimane admitted that it is a dream of every Premier Soccer League (PSL) coach to win silverware and now his focus will be on the league.

“It wasn’t my night (Saturday) but I need fresh legs for the Wednesday’s game against Mpumalanga Black Aces. The games against Polokwane City, University of Pretoria, Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic took so much from us but look at the tenacity and integrity from players, you will never see which tem played Wednesday’s game and tonight’s (Saturday) game.”

Mosimane was not pleased with questions around rushing Billiat to play despite carrying an injury which resulted in an aggravation of his injury and was replaced within 20 minutes of the game.

“Khama suffered same injury but when he played against Chiefs and Celtic and we won, no one asked me about rushing Khama but when we lose the game everyone is jumping asking me if I rushed him to play with an injury.  It is unfair to conclude that I rushed Khama before he healed properly.”

By Owen Mundalamo