Sundowns 'will keep fighting for title'
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens paid credit to a superior Kaizer Chiefs outfit after Amakhosi dented the visiting side's Premiership title aspirations on Wednesday night.
Downs dropped crucial points in the title race, going down in a 2-0 defeat to Amakhosi, who are all but out of contention, at FNB Stadium.
“They deserved to win this game,” Neeskens said after the match.
“I thought it was not a very good game. Both teams tried but did not create a lot of chances.”
The Dutch coach admitted his wayward troops had been outplayed as they settled three points behind log leaders Orlando Pirates with two games left in the league campaign.
“We didn't create too much. We were very bad with our passing tonight, and also in our crossing," Neeskens said,
“In the game we played against Santos [in a 3-1 victory last week] our passing was excellent, but today our crossing was maybe one good one out of 25.
"If you don't give your teammate a good pass it's going to be difficult.”
The game was evenly poised until Sthembiso Ngcobo scored the opener for Chiefs in the 58th minute, and after that Sundowns went in desperate search of an equaliser and left themselves vulnerable at the back.
Siphiwe Tshabalala obliged by sealing the match in the 87th minute with his side's second goal.
“Until they scored the [first] goal it was even, but the moment they scored the goal they were the better team,” Neeskens said.
The loss, he admitted, had made a huge dent in his side's title aspirations, but he insisted they will stay motivated.
“We are three points behind with two games left," Neeskens said.
"We missed a big opportunity, but we keep fighting and we will see what will happen.”
In other games on Wednesday, Free State Stars kept their slim title aspirations alive with a 1-0 away win over Santos at Athlone Stadium.
Santos remain second from bottom while Stars are in fourth place, four points behind Pirates.
Platinum Stars thrashed Jomo Cosmos 4-1 in Phokeng as Jomo Sono's outfit were left further entrenched at the bottom of the standings.
Bloemfontein Celtic ran out 4-2 victors over Ajax Cape Town in Bloemfontein, while Golden Arrows and Wits settled for a 1-1 draw in KwaMashu.
On Tuesday, Pirates had secured a 2-1 win against fellow title chasers SuperSport United as they set the pace in the closing stages of the season.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Maritzburg United and AmaZulu drew 1-1 in Pietermaritzburg.
