Stars sink Sundowns’ Nedbank Cup title hopes
MAMELODI Sundowns’ silverware drought of five years is set to continue following a 2-1 defeat against Platinum Stars in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals yesterday.
The loss also means the Brazilians’ hopes of playing in the CAF Confederations Cup are dashed.
For Downs, progress in the Cup would have meant they kept alive their dreams of playing in a continental competition next season. The winners of the Nedbank Cup also claim a spot in the Confederations Cup.
It was not to be for Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane as Robert Ngambi scored in the 88th minute to hand Dikwena the victory.
The match had looked a banker for the Brazilians when captain Teko Modise broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute.
However, Stars quickly fought back and found the equaliser through arguably one of the best players this season — Thuso Phala — in the 71st minute. It was advantage Stars, especially given the fact that Dikwena were probably underdogs ahead of this match.
While the season could get worse for Sundowns — they are now out of the cup and are placed 11th on the Absa Premiership table — Stars are having their best campaign yet.
Dikwena are through to the semi- finals and are still vaguely in the running in the league — seven points behind log leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
“My players are just phenomenal this season. We have leaders and no player is average in this team.
“We are not really in this to win it, but to play football, and that is very important. But I would love to win the Nedbank Cup, it’s the perfect cup for our club because of the colours,” said Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson, who once again showed his tactical ability.
Mosimane blasted his defenders for losing focus at the end and conceding the winner.
Their goalkeeper, Wayne Sandilands, seemed to work overtime and made numerous saves to keep them in the game before Ngambi eventually stabbed home the winner.
“We lost to a good team, but they did not threaten us too much. My defenders were ball-watching and could not defend our set pieces. It is part of the game and Stars are second on the log and it maybe showed (why) today,” was Mosimane’s analysis of the encounter.
Stars now join defending champions SuperSport United, Chiefs and United FC — who eliminated fellow first division contenders African Warriors from the Nedbank Cup with a 3-2 win in a thrilling quarterfinal clash at Moruleng Stadium, outside Rustenburg, yesterday — in the semifinal draw in Johannesburg at noon today. With Sapa