Overtime pays off for Downs

COACH Pitso Mosimane billed Mamelodi Sundowns’ 3-1 dismissal of Platinum Stars at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Tuesday night as the Brazilians’ best performance of the season.

Sundowns ended their winless hoodoo against Stars, and closed the gap on Absa Premiership leaders Kaizer Chiefs to three points, though having played one more game.

Mosimane believes the performance was matched this season only by a 1-0 win against Orlando Pirates in February.

The coach’s personal record against Stars included a 1-1 league draw away last season and at home this campaign, and the 2-1 Telkom Knockout quarterfinal defeat in October.

He chose the great-match label because “we were spot on – we were never one second late, we pressed from minute one until the 90th minute.

“I wanted this game to be played pound for pound. And if I’d lost I would really, really have given the crown to the other side [Chiefs].”

The Brazilians showed determination to end their eight-game winless run against Stars and earn a crucial three points.

Goals from Surprise Moriri, Lebohang Mokoena and Anthony Laffor earned the victory before Robert Ng’ambi pulled one back.

Teko Modise’s vision from deep midfield, the overlapping of left-back Mzikayise Mashaba, and running and great touches from the goal-scoring forwards overwhelmed Stars.

Mosimane said he had worked overtime on his preparation for the game.

“I’ve never worked so hard on a game. Up until we were warming up I was watching their DVDs. I could get the pattern, and already knew it. But I said this one is important for us.”

The coach remained coy on his team’s title prospects, but say he hopes the contest between Chiefs and Sundowns will push one of them to a PSL points record.

Chiefs, with 63 points in 2003-04, set the record for the era since the PSL was reduced from 18 to 16 teams in 2002-03.

“There are 24 points left to play for. Maybe this will be a year when the record is broken.

“We’ve got one mission – to improve our position and move one step up. And the only way to do that is to keep winning. What happens at Chiefs is beyond our control.

“What is good is that we keep scoring goals, and on the road, too. We went to Golden Arrows and got four, to Free State Stars and got two, here we got three. It’s no accident.”

Stars’ coach Allan Freese was frustrated at his side’s performance for a second game in succession, after they missed chances to put Maritzburg United away in Saturday’s 3-1 Nedbank Cup penalties defeat.

“Downs put us under pressure, yes, but if people put you under pressure you must also put them under pressure,” Freese said.