Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo has insisted Mamelodi Sundowns needed Themba Zwane on the pitch to defend their lead in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final against Pyramids FC.
Sundowns suffered a late blow at Loftus Versfeld Stadium when Walid El Karti equalised Lucas Ribeiro’s opener.
Before the late equaliser, it had looked as though Sundowns managed to take a crucial 1-0 win to Cairo but they uncharacteristically gave the ball away and were punished by the visitors.
After the match, Khumalo stated that Miguel Cardoso should’ve looked at captain Zwane to help defend their lead.
“I think this is the result they wanted,” he stated on SABC3.
“I said the last minute of the game which is a critical phase, you’re going to see the changes that Pyramids made.
“What they did first half, they were quick to go forward with two to three players touching the ball. With Sundowns there is six or seven touches.
“Now, second half what they did is not to allow Sundowns to build from the back as usual, they neutralised a certain number of players that they though could be a danger to them.
“Sundowns needed a player that could dictate the tempo of the match and that positional play because they are leading. So giving possession away is dangerous, keeping it defending. So they’re defending in terms of they are leading, Pyramids is chasing the game.
“But who is in the middle for them to be able to do that. They needed a Themba Zwane who will be able to have that tiki-taka combinational play.”
Sundowns now need a high-scoring draw or win in Cairo in order to lift their second star.
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