Jeremy Brockie stretched his goalless streak to 18 games as 10-man Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a goalless draw against Highlands Park, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
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1. Jeremy Brockie’s goal drought continues
The New Zealand striker is yet to replicate his serial goalscoring form from his SuperSport United days.
Coming into the encounter, the 30-year-old striker made 17 appearances for the club without finding the back of the net in all domestic competitions since October 2017. Brockie is struggling to find the form that saw him score 54 goals during his three-year spell at SuperSport.
2. Ricardo Nascimento’s sarcastic red card
The Brazilian defender received his marching orders after picking up a straight red card by referee Phelelani Ndaba in the second half for his sarcastic applause moments after committing a foul. Although the replay suggests that Nascimento should have received a yellow card for his foul, his reaction to Ndaba’s decision convinced the referee to dismiss the defender.
3. Did the ball cross the line?
Sundowns thought the ball had crossed the line for a goal late in the second half when Gaston Sirino crossed the ball into the path of Wayne Arendse, who got up to a header that beat goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini, but his effort was superbly cleared off the line by Highlands’ defensive pillar Junior Sibande.
Many Sundowns players and supporters thought the goal should’ve been given with a section of the crowd chanting for VAR after that Sibande clearance. Although it was used during the Fifa World Cup in Russia, it hasn’t been introduced in SouthAfrican football, which would of certainly have helped on this occasion.
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4. Mission accomplished for Owen Da Gama
A committed and focused display by the Lions of the North, saw them clinch their third successive draw of the campaign. The newly-promoted side, for the most part, led from the back by an impressive defensive display from Sibande, who kept his side well organised and structured to effectively contain and frustrate Sundowns.
Highlands are yet to claim their first win back in the PSL but have also never lost yet. They have only conceded two goals in three games, it’s no surprise that they broke the records for the least number of goals conceded in the National First Division last season.
5. Mosimane takes issue with referee’s game management
‘Very much frustrated. The way the game went on. My players did whatever they had to do, I’m not encouraging Ricardo to get the red card. I’m the one who speaks against that. Even Gaston Sirino’s yellow card I think it was uncalled for. That’s where I want to talk about my players, the other side I’m not there to talk about it.
‘Management of the game [by the referee] could be better. I was not happy with Sirino getting a yellow card, I’m not saying it’s not a yellow card, probably the referee is right. They get frustrated, they are human beings but what can I do,’ said Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane after the game.
This was the post-match reactions from a frustrated Mosimane. The Sundowns mentor took issue with the referee’s management of the game following Nascimento’s red card while declaring that Sirino’s yellow card might not have been the right call, but he could not be drawn into making comments about the refereeing decisions for fear of being fined by the Premier Soccer League.
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Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix