Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane was livid after defender Soumahoro Bangaly gave away an 89th minute penalty that allowed Esperance to score late in their CAF Champions League game to beat the Pretoria side 2-1.
After Yassine Khenissi had given the visitors the lead after just six minutes at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday, before Sibusiso Vilakazi pulled one back in the 21st minute.
Yassine completed his brace from the penalty spot in the last minute of regulation time.
The win kept the Tunisians at the top of Group C after three games, while Mosimane's Brazilians remain in second.
After the game, Mosimane lamented the 89th minute penalty, saying his team again let themselves down at a critical moment during the game.
"I think it’s a foul. I’m not sure - I haven’t seen the footage‚ but from where I was sitting it looked a foul in the box," Mosimane was quoted by SowetanLIVE website.
"Really‚ really‚ unbelievable. I mean‚ Esperance were playing for a draw. And if you don’t win‚ at least you are still joint-leaders.
"And I told the guys‚ 'You’ve got to understand the mentality of the North Africans'. If you look at the penalty they got against Vita‚ you could see‚ they are smart. They know how to play. They play for a penalty.
"I’m not saying this was no penalty. But they always put the leg there‚ and you know the story.
"And I told the guys‚ 'You've got to be smart. You can never ever try and play the way you play in the PSL in the Champions League‚ especially against the North Africans'.
"You know‚ they lie on the floor‚ they ask for a foul. So we were a little it naive to give the penalty. And I'm very upset with the penalty.
"We suffered a penalty against Baroka. OK‚ that one‚ it hit the player's hip and the ball deflected onto the player's hand‚ and a penalty was given. And we paid big time.
"That one was not a penalty. But this one‚ we could have been smarter. Because the guy is not going to score there.
"You could just guide him to go to the side. But as a coach it’s the price you pay," he added.
The defeat at home puts Sundowns on the back foot in Group C, with Esperance now favourites to win the group.
The Brazilians will, however, be backing themselves to finish second and qualify for the next round of the competition.