Mamelodi Sundowns In Controversial League Win Over Stellenbosch
Mamelodi Sundowns came back from a goal down on Wednesday night to beat a hard-working Stellenbosch side 3-1 in their Absa Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld albeit, they drew level with a controversial penalty in the 57th minute after going into the break trailing by a single goal.
The penalty brought Pitso Mosimane’s team back into the contest as they went on to grab two late goals through Sphelele Mkhulise and Keletso Makgalwa to claim their 3-1 victory as they narrowed the gap between them and Kaizer Chiefs back to 10 point with a game in hand whilst new boys Stellenbosch remained anchored at the foot of the table.
With Stellenbosch leading 1-0, Sundowns were awarded a penalty after Stellenbosch’s Mogamad De Goede was deemed to have brought down Themba Zwane, who dusted himself and converted the penalty, although replays showed a clear dive on the part of Zwane, as there was no contact between the pair to warrant a penalty decision.
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker launched a furious rant at the decision to award the penalty to Sundowns and obviously mocked Mosimane for his vitriol against Kaizer Chiefs that they get rub of the green from referees.
” I want to know the same club that say other clubs get decisions, what do they say now? What do they say? Yep! So obviously if you get a soft penalty given against you and you get a red-card it makes it tough. I’m very frustrated tonight but frustrated with what happened here but not frustrated with my team.”
“You can’t control everything, you’re up against the crowd, you’re up against a good team and you’re up against decisions that don’t go your way,” Barker told SuperSport TV.
“Firstly it’s a free-kick, he’s holding the ball between his legs, it’s not a penalty, I’ve been informed. Then we have a penalty, it doesn’t get given, it doesn’t get reshown, so what are you up against? Unbelievable performance from our team tonight! Unbelievable!”
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By Gerald Dandah
