Sekhukhune United head coach Lehlohonolo Seema says Mamelodi Sundowns must expect the same time-wasting tactics they dished out when they will face Esperance on Friday.
Sundowns maintained their unbeaten run in the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season to 22 games with a 2-1 win against Sekhukhune who are chasing CAF inter-club qualification.
And they did it with 11 changes to the starting line-up from the side who lost 1-0 against Taraji in Tunis last week, as Tashreeq Matthews and Thapelo Morena scored a quick-fire double in the opening seven minutes.
“I don’t think I need to overview 90 minutes, it’s too far, seven minutes we lost the match, with a terrible start, and made mistakes I’m sure the opponents couldn’t believe their luck,” Seema said.
“if you start like that against Sundowns, champs, sitting on the top of the log since day one, and you don’t bring your A game from the first minute you will have a mountain to climb. At 1-0, okay, but at 2-0 you have a mountain to climb.
“Credit to the players, 2-0 at seven minutes at Loftus against Sundowns, you would think the game is done and dusted, everything was going wrong, we couldn’t even wait until half-time to make changes.
“In those five minutes before half-time we could have scored, check the stats, everything we were on top off, corner kicks, shots at goal, tackles, saves, everything and if you don’t take the chances it will be difficult.”
Babina Noko made a double change with Lehlohonolo Mtshali and Jamie Webber making way for Chibuike Ohizu and Kamoehlo Mokotjo. The Nigerians striker netted a penalty early into the second half to set up a tense test for Sundowns, which they overcame.
“The players didn’t back down, we dug deep, we’re a team who fights until the last minute, it’s my first time seeing Sundowns players wasting time like that and sitting down, even the coach called players when they went down so that he can give information,” he said.
“It’s one tactic they must expect on Friday [against Esperance], they have shown them how it’s done and it’s one of those games, the sooner or better we forget about it, let’s not talk about the second half, everyone saw we created chances, we kept fighting. We were terrible the first seven minutes and need to forget about this game.”
