Mamelodi Sundowns are always lauded for their offensive game, and for the raft of creative individuals they have at their disposal.
That may be so – but, in their Nedbank Cup final victory over Ajax Cape Town at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, Sundowns proved that there is another, more effective arrow to their bow as well.
Sundowns went on to defeat Ajax 4-3 on penalties, but they were, by far, the better side over the 120 minutes of normal play. The fact that the score remained at 0-0 was a testament to the fighting spirit of a courageous, young Ajax squad and a few brilliant saves from the Cape side’s Finnish goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola.
But the impressive aspect about their strategy for the final, especially in the opening 45 minutes, was not so much their famed attacking play, it was rather the relentless pressure they put on the ball carrier that placed them on the road to victory. The Pretoria club hounded, harassed and snapped at the feet of the Ajax youngsters. They allowed them no space which led to numerous errors from the Capetonians.
Usually, these kids are comfortable and confident in possession, but the squeeze applied by the Brazilians was so successful that Ajax regularly conceded possession. And, with Ajax giving the ball away cheaply, Sundowns were able to build a platform to dominate the game.
“We controlled the match and the players were tactically disciplined,” said Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane. “We were quicker on the ball, we picked up the second ball and we dominated play. We created chances, tried to convert, but couldn't. But, still we kept going. We kept trying, right to the end.
“We may have won it on penalties, but that doesn’t matter. People don’t care how you win, as long as you win.
“This is a club where you must try to, at least, win something. Last year, we won the league title and now we have the Nedbank Cup. It’s good, it creates a winning mentality. And teams who know how to win, keep winning ... I’m excited to have won this trophy.”
Ajax assistant-coach Ian Taylor, standing in for the suspended head coach Roger de Sa, agreed that Downs had changed the way they normally play.
“They put us under a lot of pressure,” said Taylor. “They started off by not using their traditional passing game by going through the middle. Instead, they went a bit longer, trying to get in behind our defence. The key, though, was that they were always picking up the second ball, which meant that we were always on the back foot and under pressure.
“And then, with all the quality they had, they were still able to bring quality players like Cuthbert Malajila and Anthony Laffor in the second half.
“But the team did us proud, they can keep their heads held high. We may have lost, but I think, with a team as young such as this, we still walk away as winners.”
Thus far, all the hype and discussion about this special bunch of Ajax youngsters has revolved around their talent and ability. In the final the kids added and extra dimension to their game in a show of grit, grunt and guts.
In this regard, this young Ajax squad emerged with great credit on Saturday. They lost to Downs – one of the most successful clubs in the country – but the Cape side’s resilience and courage won the day.
They provided clear, unequivocal proof that they are more than just talented, they have the strength, the disposition and mentality to forge successful careers in the sport.
Ajax’s 21-year-old captain Travis Graham was the star for his side. Graham’s studs trampled every inch of the cavernous stadium, he tackled, he ran, he sprinted, he passed, he got stuck in, and never wavered in his commitment to the team.
“It was a great experience for us as young players still making our way in the game,” said Graham. It was disappointing to lose, the guys were gutted, but we will remember what we went through. What we learnt will be so crucial as we continue to progress. The main thing now is to keep this momentum. We did very well this season to finish fifth in the PSL and then narrowly lose out in the Cup final. We have to make sure that we continue in the same way next season.”
Graham led from the front, but central defender Rivaldo Coetzee wasn’t too far behind. He has had a fantastic run for club and country this season – and, on Saturday, he again rose to the occasion with a performance of maturity and dogged defence.
Ajax’s Finnish goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola was deservedly named as the Man-of-the-Match but in the penalty shoot-out, Downs came out on top. - The Star