Mamelodi Sundowns players were suffering from a Carling Knockout Cup final hangover, and this detracted from the star-studded team’s Premiership performance in Polokwane on Wednesday evening.
In late November 2024, the relegation-doomed Magesi FC produced one of the biggest upsets in South African football history by defeating Sundowns 2-1 in the Carling Knockout Cup final at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso admitted that this shock defeat loomed large in the players’ minds as they prepared for Wednesday’s clash at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
After the match, Cardoso said he had addressed this matter in his pre-match pep talk.
Cardoso and his players were rudely surprised when Magesi scored first, and so early in the match, which Sundowns dominated from start to finish.
Cardoso said this setback caused a great deal among his players as the Carling Knockout Cup final memories came flooding back.
To compound matters, some Sundowns players seem fatigued after the side’s drawn match against Moroccan visitors AS FAR on Sunday at Loftus.
After grabbing two assists in the second half, Arthur spoke to us about Masandawana's comeback in Polokwane! 😌#Sundowns #BetwayPrem #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/PlLcVqjzjO
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) January 23, 2025
The Polokwane venue also had a poor playing surface, and according to Cardoso, it impacted their passing game.
“There was a need to overcome some emotions from the Carling Knockout Cup final against Magesi,” said Cardoso.
“There were emotions I had to de-block during halftime (because they were trailing 1-0). It was important to de-block, and I think that also helped us with energy in the second half.
“The players off the bench brought in some new energy.
“I can confess to you as a coach, it was a very tough game. Not only because we had to think a lot in terms of how to help the players... It’s basically our job as coaches to solve the problems on the pitch.
“They gave the answer to how we changed the game. The players that came in helped a lot, and we kept the intensity until the end and got the results we wanted.
“It was a very emotional game, and naturally, emotions for myself came out at that moment (when we scored the winner).”
Arthur Sales (for Sphelele Mkhulise) and Tashreeq Matthews (for Iqraam Rayners) were the players coming off the bench for second-half play, and they made a big difference.
Sales provided the assist for Sundowns’ opening goal from Lucas Ribeiro Costa, and Matthews scored the winner five minutes before the final whistle.
Although the Brazilians won, it will be a game that they will want to forget about. The result could have been vastly different had Magesi converted two sitters which emerged on either side of the halftime break.
With this revenge win over Magesi, Sundowns opened a six-point lead from Orlando Pirates at the top of the Premiership standings.
Magesi remain rock bottom on the 16-team log, with one win after 13 matches.
The teams will now turn their attention to Nedbank Cup action.
Sundowns host third-tier opponents Sibanye Golden Stars on Saturday, and Magesi will welcome SuperSport United next Tuesday. | Independent Media Sport