Mosimane disappointed with Downs’ Caf slip-up

MAMELODI Sundowns’ inability to take advantage of an early lead – and a stupid blunder that allowed Wydad Casablanca to equalise – left coach Pitso Mosimane a disappointed man after a 1-1 Downs home Caf Champions League draw on Saturday night.

Sundowns took the lead against last year’s champions in the opening Group C game when Badr Gaddarine turned Sibusiso Vilakazi’s cross into his own net for a second-minute own goal.

Wydad equalised when speedy winger Mohammed Ounajem kept the ball in on the goalline – only by millimetres – and left-back Tebogo Langerman stopped playing and stood rigid‚ allowing Ismail El Haddad to run through unmarked for a free headed 20th-minute equaliser.

“I am disappointed,” Mosimane said. “We should have won the game.

“I’m disappointed because I know what is going to happen in Morocco – they will put pressure‚ they will stress the referee and do everything.

“We needed to kill the game. We made a very‚ very crucial mistake.

“Without that mistake how were they going to score?

Mosimane conceded that Wydad were superbly organised‚ quick and devastatingly effective in attack.

“You must give credit to the champions for their organisation,” he said. “Their tactical discipline was great.

“When it’s a PSL game, somebody’s going to crack – and we could score. This was a Champions League game, the best teams in Africa.”

Mosimane said he believed Sundowns now had to win one of their three away games to be sure of progressing to the Caf Champions League quarterfinals. – TimesLIVE