Mamelodi Sundowns, a team who have earned the reputation in recent times of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, are threatening to do it again.
The Brazilians went down 2-0 to a well-drilled, opportunist Jomo Cosmos at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Wednesday night and in the process surrendered much of their advantage in the intense Premier League title race — a matter of days after their shock elimination from the CAF Champions League.
And while Sundowns retain their place at the top of the log, they must be acutely aware that Orlando Pirates are now hovering two points behind in third place — but with a game in hand.
Cosmos snatched the lead in the 43rd minute through a clinical, close-range shot from Zambian international Chris Katongo after Sundowns right back Vuyo Mere was caught hopelessly out of position.
And Jomo Sono’s team virtually sealed the issue in the 64th minute when Liberian international Anthony Laffor’s shot from the edge of the penalty area slithered out of the hands of hapless Sundowns goalkeeper Andre Arendse and rolled into the net under his body.
Although Sundowns threw everything into a desperate assault on the Cosmos goal during the final 25 minutes — finally playing with four strikers after Venezuelan international Jose Torrealba was surprisingly left on the bench until the 68th minute — their finishing was largely powder puff and added credence to the claim that they do not know how to fight their way out of a tight corner.
For all this, Sundowns had sufficient opportunities to have won the game, with a gawky Sandile Ndlovu squandering four gilt-edged chances and other players fiddling in apparent fright in the vicinity of the Cosmos goal.
The Cosmos defence, nevertheless, played with uniform courage and resolution and Avril Phadi was outstanding in goal. He made three breathtaking saves that might easily have been goals.
A tense crowd of 10 000, with support almost equally divided between the two teams, watched the game.
Ironically, however, there were precious few genuine Cosmos followers on hand, with almost all their support coming from fans in Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs colours — the teams who are vying with the Brazilians for the PSL title. — Sapa