Pitso seeks to regain bit of pride in Osaka Cape Town City no match for Platinum Stars juggernaut
MAMELODI Sundowns are expecting a tougher match from Jeonduk Hyundai Motors at the Fifa Club World Cup in today’s fifth-place playoff in Osaka than what they experienced against Kashima Antlers in the quarterfinals.
Sundowns lost 2-0 on their and Southern Africa’s debut at the Club World Cup (CWC) against Japan’s host club Antlers, and have the fifth-place playoff against South Korea’s Asian champions Jeonduk left to play for.
The match at Osaka’s Suita City Football Stadium kicks off at 4.30pm in Japan (9.30am SA time).
Sundowns winger Keagan Dolly warned that the Asian champions could be tougher prospects to face than J-League champions Antlers, who Sundowns missed half-a-dozen chances against in the first half, but were outplayed by them in the second.
“It’s going to be tough. We know Jeonduk are a good team and they’ve got good individuals. But for us it’s to convert the chances that we create,” said Dolly.
“We expect a similar play to Kashima. We know the Asians are good tactically. I think Jeonduk will be a tougher team.
“But ja, for us it’s just to try and win the match, give our best and try and learn from this experience.”
The Downs forward, one of four Sundowns players nominated for Caf’s localbased African Player of 2016 Award, will have to lift himself from a tired-looking performance against Antlers for one last big match for his club after a gruelling 15 months.
“It’s been very busy – it’s been a long year for Sundowns. I think it’s been 15 months of non-stop football without a rest,” Dolly admitted.
“For some of us it’s not just Sundowns, it’s also the national teams.
“But I think throughout the campaign it’s been a really good year for us.
“But then I think the reason why the individuals got nominated for awards was because the team did well.”
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has pointed to his side’s inexperience as tournament rookies and said they are in Japan on a learning curve.
He said he enjoyed against Antlers.
“Me, I like it. I like this level, this stress. In fact, from these games I wish I could go direct to playing in the African Champions League.
“Then I would have sharpened the saw,” said Mosimane. “You know when you are beaten, you come up strong and are more determined? As much as we need a break I want to play now.
“I need to play this game, play the Asian champions and prepare the team for the Champions League, and as a team raise the level a little bit.”
Jeonduk are in the playoff for fifth having lost 2-1 to Mexico’s Club America in their quarterfinal.
● Marc Strydom is in Japan as a guest of Mamelodi Sundowns even the defeat PLATINUM Stars produced their best performance of the season to hand Cape Town City a 4-0 defeat in an Absa Premiership match at Athlone Stadium last night.
Dikwena had lost their last four league matches in succession, while the Citizens were on cloud nine after claiming top spot on the log and winning their piece of major silverware – the Telkom Knockout – this past weekend.
Stars established a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
The first arrived with less than five minutes on the clock when a free kick was delivered from the left flank, and allowed defender Isaac Nhlapo to score with a diving header.
In the 10th minute Dikwena doubled their advantage with a similar goal. This time Ndumiso Mabena provided a low cross from open play and Tintswalo Tshabalala arrived late in the danger area to score with another diving header.
City pushed hard in the latter stages of the first half and looked dangerous from a series of free kicks, but Stars were able to hold the hosts at bay and ensure they went into the break with their 2-0 lead intact.
Dikwena started the second half strongly and should have added to their lead. Both Luvolwethu Mpeta and Benson Shilongo were guilty of missing good chances within 10 minutes of the restart.
The Citizens responded by using all three substitutions before the hour mark, throwing on Judas Moseamedi, Given Mashikinya and Mpho Matsi.
However, it was Stars’ first substitute, Bongi Ntuli, who provided the killer blow when he made it 3-0 to the visitors in the 76th minute, shrugging off a weak challenge before rounding Shu-Aib Walters and tapping into an empty net.
Six minutes later it was 4-0, with Mabena adding to his two assists in the first half by springing the offside trap and scoring with a low shot which found the back of the net via the inside of the post.
Things went from bad to worse for City late in the game when defender Joseph Adjei got himself sent off for a second bookable offence, seeing the hosts end the encounter with just 10 men.
● Second-half goals helped Maritzburg United beat Orlando Pirates 2-1 in an Absa Premiership game at the Harry Gwala Stadium last night.
As a result the Team of Choice climbed up to eighth on the league standings, while Bucs stay fifth on the table after losing their first game under Augusto Palacios.
The Team of Choice began the match lively with Deolin Mekoa and Kwanda Mngonyama failing to hit the back of the net from range in the early stages of the game.
But the best chances of the firsthalf went to Pirates as Issa Sarr missed the target from close range in the 28th minute, before Happy Jele hit the crossbar.
The score was 0-0 at the half-time break.
The deadlock was finally broken three minutes into the second-half by Bevan Fransman, who hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Maritzburg.
It was 2-0 to the Team of Choice in the 65th minute as Brian Onyango headed home from the Pirates box to double his side’s lead.
Pirates did grab a late goal in the 83rd minute through Ayanda Nkosi, but his goal proved to be a consolation goal as Maritzburg held on to win 2-1. — BackpageTXT