Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has delivered his verdict on Lebo Mothiba’s failed panenka penalty, choosing to focus on the striker’s overall contribution after his match-winning cameo against Polokwane City FC.
Cardoso’s troops secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against ‘Rise and Shine’ at the Seshego Stadium outside Polokwane in the league on Wednesday night.
The win saw Masandawana reclaim the top position in the Betway Premiership with four matches to play. They are now two points above league title rivals and second-placed Orlando Pirates.
Mothiba, who came on as a second-half substitute, missed a glorious opportunity to double the lead with 15 minutes to play. However, before that, Mothiba provided the assist for Marcelo Allende’s all-important goal.
There is now an eight-goal difference between Masandawana and the Buccaneers, with the latter holding the upper hand.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS COACH NOT BOTHERED AFTER LEBO MOTHIBA PANENKA ATTEMPT
“I didn’t realise what happened, I think the goalkeeper was on the other side,” Cardoso told journalists.
Cardoso admitted he had a limited view of the incident at the time, as his attention was momentarily directed elsewhere, but emphasised that there was no doubt about the player’s intent.
The Sundowns coach dismissed any suggestion of complacency, stating that Mothiba remains one of the team’s most reliable penalty takers and would not have missed deliberately. He reiterated his trust in the striker’s ability, underlining that such moments are part of the game and do not diminish the player’s quality or importance to the squad.
“So, I think he tried to play on the other side. Look, Lebo is a very good penalty taker—very good. If he didn’t score against Polokwane City, it’s not because he didn’t want to; it is because he couldn’t. That’s just what it is,” added Cardoso.
“Teams have these moments. We don’t dwell on mistakes; we look at and analyse them with the aim to do better in the next one.”
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