Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane admits Gaston Sirino deserved to be shown a red card in the Telkom Knockout semifinal victory against Golden Arrows on Saturday.
Sirino was given his marching orders by referee Victor Gomes after a shocking studs up challenge on Arrows captain Matome Mathiane near the end of the game.
Despite finishing the game with 10 men, Sundowns still advanced to the final after a narrow 2-1 victory over the hosts at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Mosimane admitted his player deserved to walk for his action but also said his team know how to see out games playing a man less.
The Sundowns mentor said: “Sirino was naughty, Gomes was right to take him out.
“We have the experience of playing 10 against 11, last year I think we got three red cards from Gaston Sirino and we still managed to deal with it, because you don’t have to change the tactics.
All you have to do is to reduce one striker upfront, that’s all and everything remains the same.”
Sundowns will take on Maritzburg United in the Telkom Knockout final to be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 14 December.