Atteridgeville - Mamelodi Sundowns’ woeful recent run continued when they lost 1-0 to Platinum Stars at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday night.
A poor game of soccer was decided by a single goal from Henrico Botes, who capitalised on a Sundowns mistake to give his side the three points and deepen the crises at Chloorkop.
The visitors might have been ahead inside the opening few minutes when Botes was sent clear on goal, but after a poor first touch saw his effort saved by Sundowns goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands
Eleazar Rodgers should have put Sundowns ahead too as he found himself all alone at the near post from Julies’ cross, but his header towards an empty net was high and wide.
Dikwena were in front on 14 minutes and it was all of Sundowns’ own doing. Esrom Nyandoro’s first touch was terrible and Botes was left to have a free run on goal before emphatically burying his opportunity past Sandilands,
Rodgers almost restored parity with a fine 35-yard effort that was well saved by Siyabonga Mpontshane in the visitors’ goal.
Stars felt they should have had a penalty when Thuso Phala was felled by Sandilands but was flagged offside. However, replays showed that the ball was played back by Sundowns defender Clayton Daniels, therefore playing Phala onside.
The second half was disappointing and it took until 25 minutes in for the first real site of goal, Masenamela shooting from range but Mpontshane made a comfortable save.
Substitute Anthony Lafford almost brought the home side level when his volley from Rodgers’ flick went wide.
Nyandoro fired wide with a free-kick, while Nyasha Mushekwi could not get any power behind his shot.
Sundowns must have known it was not to be their evening when Rodgers’ goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by substitute Enocent Mkhabela, ensuring Stars would walk away with the three points.
Both of these sides will now wait until Monday night’s Telkom Knockout first round draw to see who their next fixtures will be against after the international break, but Sundowns’ next League assignment is away at Ajax Cape Town on October 27 and Stars host Free State Stars on the same day.
A poor game of soccer was decided by a single goal from Henrico Botes, who capitalised on a Sundowns mistake to give his side the three points and deepen the crises at Chloorkop.
The visitors might have been ahead inside the opening few minutes when Botes was sent clear on goal, but after a poor first touch saw his effort saved by Sundowns goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands
Eleazar Rodgers should have put Sundowns ahead too as he found himself all alone at the near post from Julies’ cross, but his header towards an empty net was high and wide.
Dikwena were in front on 14 minutes and it was all of Sundowns’ own doing. Esrom Nyandoro’s first touch was terrible and Botes was left to have a free run on goal before emphatically burying his opportunity past Sandilands,
Rodgers almost restored parity with a fine 35-yard effort that was well saved by Siyabonga Mpontshane in the visitors’ goal.
Stars felt they should have had a penalty when Thuso Phala was felled by Sandilands but was flagged offside. However, replays showed that the ball was played back by Sundowns defender Clayton Daniels, therefore playing Phala onside.
The second half was disappointing and it took until 25 minutes in for the first real site of goal, Masenamela shooting from range but Mpontshane made a comfortable save.
Substitute Anthony Lafford almost brought the home side level when his volley from Rodgers’ flick went wide.
Nyandoro fired wide with a free-kick, while Nyasha Mushekwi could not get any power behind his shot.
Sundowns must have known it was not to be their evening when Rodgers’ goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by substitute Enocent Mkhabela, ensuring Stars would walk away with the three points.
Both of these sides will now wait until Monday night’s Telkom Knockout first round draw to see who their next fixtures will be against after the international break, but Sundowns’ next League assignment is away at Ajax Cape Town on October 27 and Stars host Free State Stars on the same day.