SUNDOWNS SLUMP ON
ANOTHER DRAW: BRAZILIANS FAIL TO SCORE – THIS TIME AGAINST CELTIC
Tignyemb gives man-of-the-match performance.
The slump by Premiership title-holders Mamelodi Sundowns stretched to five matches last night when they were held 0-0 at home by Bloemfontein Celtic. Sundowns have scored only once in drawing three league games and losing two, gathering just three points from a possible 15 and remaining fifth on the log.
Leaders Cape Town City have 42 points, Wits 41, Kaizer Chiefs 39, SuperSport United 37 and Sundowns 35 in a five-club title race.
“We must remain patient and the goals and the victories will come,” promised Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane. “I could become emotional and critical and start a blame game, but that would be counter-productive.”
Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb gave a man-of-thematch performance.
The first half was evenly balanced and there were a couple of early opportunities as Hlompho Kekana sent a stinging long-range shot straight at Tignyemb, while at the other end Deon Hotto fired a shot wide of the far post after a break down the left.
The next real action came on the half hour mark when Sundowns keeper Kennedy Mweene did superbly to keep out Lantshene Phalane’s shot before bravely diving at the feet of Tshegofatso Mabasa to ensure his goal remain intact.
It was then the turn of Tignyemb to earn his pay when he came flying off his line to block Leonardo Castro’s close range effort before Themba Zwane’s follow-up shot was cleared off the line by Bulelani Ndengane.
There was an anxious moment for the Tshwane side just before half time when Soumahoro Bangaly, who put the ball in his own net against Kaizer Chiefs last weekend, again played a dangerous pass back towards his own goal, but Mweene came to his rescue with a quick reaction.
Tignyemb was to continue his good work after the break when he twice denied Castro by moving off his line speedily to block the Colombian’s route to goal.
Sundowns seemed to have fi- nally broken the deadlock, on 63 minutes, when Ricardo Nascimento fired in a volley from close range, but Ndengane did outstandingly to deflect the ball onto the crossbar before it bounced back into play.
The woodwork again came to Phunya Sele Sele’s aid when Khama Billiat’s header looped onto the crossbar before Kekana’s header missed the far post by an inch.
The Brazilians’ frustrations continued when Teko Modise’s seemingly goal-bound 87th minute free kick was brilliantly saved by a diving Tignyemb.
That was the last real opportunity of the game as Celtic successfully held on for the point which lifts them three pounds above the drop zone and into 11th position. – ANA, AFP