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HomeCAF Champions LeagueKekana On Factors That Led To Sundowns Defeat

Kekana On Factors That Led To Sundowns Defeat

Mamelodi Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana has reacted to his former side’s Champions League loss away in Rwanda saying they were their own worst enemy on the night.

Sundowns suffered a 2-1 loss to Al Hilal in Group C on Friday and dropped to second position in the pool with five points in four matches.

Kekana felt that Sundowns handled the game well and played how a Champions league game should be played however let themselves down in critical moments.

The former midfielder cited the way the Brazilians conceded a penalty as an example.

“Overall performance I would say it was a performance of a Champions League; however, I still believe that the two goals that Al Hilal scored were purely from our own mistakes,” said Kekana on SABC TV.

“And I did mention that when you are playing away in this Champions League try by all means to minimize those smaller mistakes that will cost you a goal or cost you a match. And I thought in build-up, that’s where normally Mamelodi Sundowns likes to play, and they master that part of the game.

“But I thought in this match, they really let themselves down in moments. The first goal which is where Dennis Onyango passed the ball to young [Thato] Sibiya, who I thought the first control is your control and the safe pass to [Khulumani] Ndamane, because in a build-up, you’re inviting the opposition to come to you to come and mark.

“So, if you are saying come and mark and you are still putting balls into a risky place, then you’re going to shoot yourself on the foot. And that’s what happened with the first goal, where in a build-up, we let the ball into be a 50/50 ball, and they can’t be in a 50/50 ball when you’re building up because you have to be in control of the moments.”  

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