Mamelodi Sundowns could have used the skills of Collins Mbesuma when they needed an extra-time goal to beat Free Stare Stars 1-0 in a hard fought MTN 8 quarterfinal clash played at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Sunday.
Downs’s spokesperson Mahlatse Mphahlele said: ”We are hoping that Mbesuma can revive the form that saw him score 35 goals in the 2004/05 season for Chiefs. He has tons of skill and a proven goal-scoring record.
‘Our technical team are working hard on getting him match fit as soon as possible.”
Downs were minus their tough-as-teak defender Mbulelo ‘OJ†Mabizela and new star signing Sibusiso Zulu, both of whom were slightly injured in training.
The home side attacked form the outset but struggled to get past the in-form Zambian international Kennedy Mweene.
Downs enjoyed territorial advantage in a fast flowing opening 45 minutes but failed to find a way past the Stars’s defence.
Downs looked good in patches with their clever flicks and neat passing, but were let down in the final third of the pitch where it mattered the most.
Apart from Katlego Mphela, none of the Downs attackers were prepared to take responsibility for going for goal. Mphela, who joined the Brazilians in the off-season from Pretoria neighbours SuperSport United, looked sharp in the first half but faded in the second. He also failed to take advantage of a fumble by Mweene, who could only parry Benedict Vilakazi’s shot in the sixth minute.
Two minutes later Mphela shot wide again as Downs went searching for an early goal.
Stars were content to hit their hosts on the counterattack. David Telfer hit a long distance shot over the Downs crossbar in the 10th minute.
Then it was the turn of Stars midfielder Matome Madimabe, who sent a screamer centimetres over the Downs upright with his 30 metre rocket in the 13th minute. The same player then sent a curling shot from the right that was just wide of the Downs upright in the 38th minute.
Mweene showed his class again in the 59th minute when he denied Surprise Moriri a breakthrough with another top-class save. He also prevented Vilakazi scoring with another save in the 63rd minute.
But his stop from Downs substitute Koketso Mmotong two minutes later was the best of the match.
Mphela thought he had got the goal four minutes from the end of regulation time but his volley skimmed past the upright with Mweene beaten.
But the pressure finally paid off when Mphela netted from close range after he collected a pass from substitute Dario Monteiro to give the Brazilians a place in the semifinals. – Sapa