Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi reckons that the Brazilians had a good game despite coming from behind to beat Black Leopards 2-1 at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday evening.
A Peter Shalulile brace gave Sundowns their first win in four matches after draws against SuperSport United, Bloemfontein Celtic and Swallows FC.
The Brazilians finished the match with 10 men following Mothobi Mvala’s red card. Mvala got his marching orders after he pulled Leopards striker Rodney Ramagalela’s jersey thus denying him an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
The win over Leopards took the unbeaten Sundowns to 30 points after eight wins and six draws.
“I think it was a very good game. We had a good first half. A very good come back by the team after Mvala got the red card. I think the substitutions the coaches made played a very big role,” Mngqithi said.
“A very good performance, a spirited performance with a lot of hard work. A lot of intensity and hunger for success, something we have been demanding. Sundowns cannot be playing draws all along. And it was good for our season ahead to know that when we are one man down we can fight. The overall performance of the whole team was good.”
Without sounding like he condoned what Mvala did, Mngqithi believes that the former Highlands Park player had no other choice.
“A man had to do what he had to do. He took one for the team. Unfortunately, I didn’t see that well. I thought there was a little bit of cover and I was hoping it was going to be a yellow. Unfortunately, it was a red card,” said Mngqithi.
“Rama G is quick and creates spaces behind the defence. We know he’s also very clinical in front of goals. Maybe that is where the team came back because immediately after he went out the substitutes and the players, who were inside, gave a very good account of themselves.”
