Sundowns’ prolific forward Lucas Ribeiro shows the class he’s made off as he paces off to score first before Dortmund. Photo: Supplied

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is proud of the display shown by his boys despite the 3-4 loss to Germany giants Borussia Dortmund in the Fifa Club World Cup group game. Photo: Sipho Siso

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A foolish mistake from Africa’s best goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and an unfortunate bad clearance from Khuliso Mudau cost Mamelodi Sundowns a game they should have won hands down against Germany giants Borussia Dortmund in the second match of Group F of the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States of America.

Williams was too casual with the ball just like the departed Argentinian international defender Lucas ‘Insurance’ Suarez, who twice in different games passed the ball to opponent strikers who had made no mistake and punished the ‘Yellow Machine’. One of the mistakes was in the semi-final game against Kaizer Chiefs, and Masandawana was bundled out of the competition.

The same was done by Williams when he passed the ball onto the feet of a Dortmund forward who made no mistake in appreciating the gift goal opportunity. It was at this point that Dortmund drew level with the ‘Brazilians’ after they had scored first from a brilliant move by Brazilian international marksman Lucas Ribeiro to enable Masandawana to draw first blood in the game in which they had been given little chance, not just of winning the match, but even scoring a single goal. Williams should have learnt from the practises of Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana international Itumeleng Khune, who never cleared the ball close to his 18-yard area. Khune always encouraged his players to go forward to score goals and hence Chiefs were so successful during his goalkeeping times.

If Williams had done the same long kick of the ball to find either Ribeiro, Iqraam Rayners or even Lebogang Mothiba upfront while most of Dortmund players would have remained behind, chances were that several goals would have come the way of Sundowns as was evidenced by the Ribeiro. Ribeiro was handed the ball right in the centre line with one or two defenders and three of his striking teammates, dribbled past two defenders and unleashed a powerful shot that gave Dortmund keeper no chance, and the writing was on the wall as to what type of team Dortmund were up against.

The other was an unintentional bad clearance from Mudau that ended in the back of the net. Had it not been for the two mistakes, Dortmund would have only managed to score twice against ‘Bafana ba Style’, as Sundowns are also known for their shoeshine football from the days of their late coach Screamer Tshabalala. What it means is that Dortmund genuine scored only two goals except for the big help from Williams’ clumsy mistake and unfortunate strike home by Mudau during a clearance of what was a dangerous ball but eventually rolled into the back of the net.

Now, Sundowns scored three clear-cut golden goals with no help from Dortmund keeper or any of their defenders, and this speaks volumes for an African side. The wish of many South Africans, and followers of the beautiful game of football in the entire continent, is for this powerhouse of the African football to replicate what they did against Ulsan and avoid mistakes done in the Dortmund game.

Masandawana could be home and dry in the last group game against Brazilian side Fluminense and guarantee themselves a spot in the knockout phase of the club world cup. Fluminense won their second match against the whipping boys of the group Ulsan and a win against the Brazilian side would take the South Africans to six points and a guaranteed progression into the knockout stages of the competition. Downs coach Miguel Cardoso was equally impressed and elated at the display of his charges in the past two games despite the 4-3 loss. “It’s crucial that people grasp who Dortmund are, so that they can really highlight the quality of game that was
played by Sundowns.

“We’re not happy, but despite loss, we’re proud. I’m proud of the way players showed up in the game. I’m very proud of the resilience they had throughout the entire game,” Cardoso said in review of the match. Cardoso pointed out that Mamelodi Sundowns had a great game, but that Dortmund merely benefited from the mistakes made and added that Sundowns should have won that game if it was not for those mistakes. “Losing 3-4 to Dortmund doesn’t make us happy as coaches, but we saw good things on the pitch today. Some will focus on the result — but we were competitive at the highest level of football in the world,” Cardoso added.

The introduction of Lebogang Mothiba as a substitute, who scored the third goal in the dying minutes of the ninety, was a good move by the coach. His work rate and the threats he poses for defenders is good omen as he also showed in the Pyramids game. Many followers of football think Cardoso must think of using him in the last game alongside Ribeiro and Rayners in the last game against Fluminense. His antics in the two games he has played so far prove his acts are not just a flash in a pan but can create panic and cause havoc for opposition defenders.