Mamelodi Sundowns secured a narrow 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants in their Carling Knockout semi-final on Sunday. The match, played at Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, proved to be a tougher test than the final scoreline suggests.
Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was instrumental in keeping his team in the tie, making crucial saves, during the opening hour of play. Lucas Ribeiro opened the scoring with a penalty in the 53rd minute, but it was Maema’s late wonder strike that sealed the deal for the league champions.
Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi acknowledged the quality of Gallants’ performance: “Like I anticipated from the beginning, I always thought this was going to be a very difficult match because we are playing against a very good team. You know in South Africa, sometimes we look at the stature of the team and we don’t really look at the detail in terms of the level of performance.”
Having just sealed their ticket to the final, Mngqithi expressed concerns about the quality of the pitch at the Toyota Stadium saying, “It’s always nice to play in Bloemfontein because of the atmosphere that we get from Bloemfontein. It’s just that I’m not sure of the quality of the pitch, of the stadium where the final will be played, because I think this pitch was much better than where the final is going to be played, based on the history that I have at the Toyota Stadium.”
The Sundowns mentor also weighed in about the havoc that the international window will have on his teams preparations for the final,
“I don’t think the area where the final is put is fair to anyone, not immediately after a FIFA break. Sometimes we must just accept whatever comes.”
Sundowns and Magesi FC will face off in the final at Toyota Stadium on 23 November, where both sides will aim to clinch the prestigious trophy.