Downs get quarterfinal thrashing in Japan
JOBURG – Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane describes his team's participation in the Fifa Club World Cup as a learning curve for the boys.
African continental football champions, Mamelodi Sundowns lived to rue their missed scoring opportunities against slick Japanese outfit, Kashima Antlers in the Fifa Club World Cup in Osaka, Japan on 11 December.
Downs were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Japanese team, 2–0, with both goals coming in the second half.
The Brazilians were the better of the two sides in the first half as they created more clear-cut scoring opportunities but their strikers were not clinical on the day.
But after the break and presumably getting a pep talk from their coach in the changerooms, Antlers came back a rejuvenated side and piled the pressure on the Brazilians which resulted in the home side scoring two beauties.
After the match, Downs coach Pitso Mosimane said he was disappointed they had let the continent, country and football fans down but said he was happy with the showing of the boys.
“We may have lost in the quarterfinals but the mere appearance in the cup was [a] learning [curve] for the team, which I hope will grow from strength to strength. We’re learning a lot from these games and fans can look forward to a different Sundowns in months to come,” Mosimane said.
Sundowns settled for 6th position in the competition after they were beaten 4–1 by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, a South Korean side.
The only goal of Sundowns in the tournament was scored by highly talented and enterprising youngster, Percy Tau, who is making waves in the Sundowns teams and has eclipsed some of the well-known names with his nimble feet and scoring prowess.
Read: What did Mamelodi Sundowns victory mean to you?
