The seasoned tactician explained that his game plan worked in the first half as they led during the half-time break.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi was angry after their draw with Swallows FC on Saturday afternoon.
Masandawana was held to a 1-1 draw by the Beautiful Birds in a PSL game which was played at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Tshwane.
Sundowns opened the scoring thanks to Kermit Erasmus’s goal in the first half, but Swallows equalized through Musa Nyatama in the stoppage time and Mngqithi believes the equalizer should have been signaled offside.
The 50-year-old tactician was unhappy with the refereeing that day and he gave an example of the recent original Soweto Derby clash in which Orlando Pirates midfielder Fortune Makaringe was fouled in the surface by Tlakusani Mthethwa of Swallows, but Bucs was denied a clear penalty.
What was said
“We planned to push them like that in the first half with the high press and the goal was the result of that high press,” said Mngqithi. SuperSport TV.
“In the closing minutes of the game they played more to look for spaces behind unlike their normal combination play and we were punished for that.
“But honestly I think it was a really big offside, I haven’t seen it but in my mind I’m saying they are taking advantage of it? Because even against the Pirates there was a flagrant penalty, even today they denounce the offside I think the linesman. was consistent with that.
“But in football you have to come to terms with these things, but it looks like they benefit from it, I just want to see more because they have a lot of penalties on their side.
“But frankly, it’s a good team and their coach has worked very hard in the team, they play very good football,” he added.
“In the second half they were playing a little unusual on their own just because they were playing a lot of long balls.
“But it’s a good team, we were unlucky not to win this one, I think we did everything in our power to win.”
Why is this important and what is the big picture?
- Swallows’ late goal deprived Sundowns of a chance to open a three-point lead at the top of the league table with 13 games played.
- Sundowns remained at the top of the table – tied on points with second-placed Swallows and both teams are still unbeaten this season.
- The draw extended Masandawana’s winless run to three league appearances after recording three consecutive draws against SuperSport United, Bloemfontein Celtic and Swallows.
- The Sundowns technical team will be relieved that Kermit Erasmus has ended the Tshwane giants’ two-game drought after failing to score against SuperSport and Celtic.
- Masandawana’s next game is on January 27 against the Black Leopards, who have the second-worst joint defense in the league after conceding 19 goals in 12 appearances.
