After losing to Tshakhuma in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals, Co-Head Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns Manqoba Mngqithi says his team had great chances to win the game, but were denied through an outstanding performance from TTM goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Sundowns had numerous chances to win the game in regulation time, but time and time again Arubi denied them. Meanwhile during the 120 minutes of open play football Ricardo Goss in the Sundowns’ goal barely had a save to make.
Arubi then saved Hlompho Kekana’s sudden-death penalty in the shoot-out, as TTM knocked out the defending champions to reach their first ever final.
Mngqithi says his team tried hard to win the game, but it was at times difficult to penetrate their opponents defence, and Arubi in the last line
“I think we started the match very well, we we anticipated that they might sit back,” Mngqithi said after the game.
“And they started with five at the back, which made our life a little bit difficult. But be it as it may, we kept pushing, I think we had better moments to score goals.”
“Credit should be given to Washington Arubi, I think on the day he was outstanding. There are many instances where one thought it was a goal already, but it was just not to be, and no wonder he was the man of the match.”
“I think the boys tried very hard, we were unfortunate to have to make some changes in the last minute, with Mosa getting a knock in the last training session, and only undergoing a late fitness test, and we decided not to play him because the injury was very painful, and also unfortunate, again, to lose Onyango because of flu, which put us backwards when you consider that now in the team that we played against Pirates, we lost three very important players with Lebo being suspended, Onyango being out, and Mosa also having to be out because of that injury.”
“So it it made our life a little bit difficult. But again, the players that played today, they really gave a very good account of themselves, they created some good moments where I believe we could have easily scored a goal but in a game of football at times you don’t score goals that are very easy to score and end up scoring the most difficult ones.”
“But today, I think Washington was the one who stopped everything.”
