Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi acknowledges that nothing went his team’s way in the Carling Knockout Cup final.
The seven-time successive South African top-flight champions started the game at the Free State Stadium as heavy favourites but suffered a 2-1 defeat to the newly-promoted side.
Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring for Mngqithi’s side after 36 minutes, but Tshepo Kakora levelled three minutes into the second half.
Delano Abrahams then sealed the win with his goal three minutes from time at the end of the match.
Mngqithi told SuperSport: “I think we were just unfortunate and the universe had called this.
“We tried everything we could to win the match. We dominated the match and we confronted their box. We had a lot of shots at goal and a lot of shots on target but [Magesi goalkeeper] Elvis Chipezeze did well.
“There were a few moments where I felt in the final third the decision-making could’ve been better with a pass instead of a shot and all those small details but the truth is that the boys played very well. They did everything that I wanted but we made two critical mistakes.
“We knew that we can’t give (Edmore) Chirambadare space and time to cross the ball because he’s got a very good left foot and always puts the ball inside the box and most of their goals come from him on set pieces or from open play.
“When you allow crosses into the box against a team like this, you’re inviting problems because the truth of the matter is that we did everything we could to win the match.”
A downbeat Mngqithi, added: “It’s unfortunate that our best players could’ve been the ones that saved the situation…BUT congratulations to Clinton Larsen. I think his game plan worked because they’re very clinical and they don’t create too many chances. I don’t remember them missing a chance, the few they have, they put them in.”