Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena admits they did not control the game after conceding their first goal in the DStv Premiership this season.
The Brazilians failed to maintain their clean-sheet record after they surrendered a two-goal lead after they played out to a 2-2 draw with Tshwane rivals SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday.
Neo Maema opened the scoring for Sundowns before Peter Shalulile doubled their lead, but second-half goals from Divine Lunga and Teboho Mokwena had them sharing the spoils.
Sundowns remain at the top of the DStv Premiership standings with 27 points from 11 games, while United are placed fourth with 19 points after 12 matches.
“I think, first, let’s start by complimenting SuperSport United. I think persistence good, courageous good and also maybe from the bench Kaitano and his technical team did a very good job because the subs that they made influenced proceedings particularly in the second half,” Mokwena told SuperSport TV after the game.
“But, having said that, not a very good performance throughout and a performance we can definitely never be happy with.
“There was nothing untoward with the manner in which the Brazilians applied themselves when in the lead and surrendering it.
“It was the same, it was the same Sundowns. They had the better chances, we are not a team that gives a lot of chances to the opposition and hence the clean sheets. Our XG against relatively is very, very good but today we allowed them to create a lot of chances.
“They had a lot of situations where they could score. I mean even from the start where [Thamsanqa] Gabuza hit the crossbar they could’ve already been 1-0 up within a minute.
“So, we were never performing today, we played far too fast, we had no control of the game and it didn’t give a good feeling.”