Betway Premiership: Sundowns’ second goal doesn’t count – Tinkler

Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler has identified key moments that defined his team’s 2-0 loss to fellow Betway Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa on Tuesday.

The hosts seemed to have done enough to keep the defending champions at bay with a goalless score in 90 minutes at New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

However, Nuno Santos scored one minute into added time then Brayan León confirmed the maximum points with the second goal two minutes later.

Reflecting on the result during a pitch-side post-match interview with SuperSport Television, the former Bafana Bafana international analysed both goals. The Sekhukhune United mentor shared his thoughts on why he was not bothered much by the second.

Tinkler further attributed the holders’ depth in quality as another decisive factor that saw them across the line.

“Congratulations to Sundowns for the win. With the quality they have, and that they brought off the bench, we managed to contain them for 90 minutes. In added time, [we committed] one mistake and we got punished,” he said.

How Sekhukhune United succumbed to Sundowns

Tinkler partly attributed the late goals to his team’s change in structure as they tried to chase the game. The coach added that he was not bothered by Sundowns’ second goal which León scored, saying it came when they had abandoned their initial game-plan.

“The second one really doesn’t count because we had to open ourselves, trying to attack and get the equaliser, and we got caught on the counter. I think for 90 minutes defensively, our structure and organisation, we were solid. We had our moments in attack, not many like I said they wouldn’t be many, but we had a great chance to score,” he added.

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, whose future at the Pretoria-based club has become under increasing scrutiny, saluted his players and the fans for understanding the assignment at hand to the letter.

“They understood that we had to be ready. We needed our fans to believe in us and in the spirit of the team,” he said.

The result keeps Sundowns firmly at the summit of the Betway Premiership with 32 points, while Sekhukhune United remains in fifth place.