Extra-time wins build character - Mosimane

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 23: Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane during the Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu joint press conference at PSL Offices on October 23, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 23: Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane during the Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu joint press conference at PSL Offices on October 23, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Published Oct 27, 2014

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Pretoria - After watching his team scrape through to the semifinals of the Telkom Knockout against AmaZulu on Saturday, coach Pitso Mosimane believed Mamelodi Sundowns are benefiting from being pushed beyond 90 minutes.

Hlompho Kekana scored in extra-time as Sundowns advanced with a 2-1 win, sealing a second successive extra-time victory, after the same result against the University of Pretoria in the previous round.

“We have the mental strength. After all that we've been through,” Mosimane said after the game at Loftus Versfeld.

“This is very good for us. This is very good mental strength for the Caf Champions League.

“We're becoming tougher and tougher. With this, I think we have the mentality.”

Level after 106 minutes of action, Kekana's powerful shot from close range wrapped up a thrilling contest that really only came to life at the end of 90 minutes.

Cuthbert Malajila had put Sundowns ahead after 15 minutes, before AmaZulu left to it the last minute of second-half with Bongani Ndulula levelling in dramatic fashion to send the pair into extra-time.

The victory was Sundowns' first win in three matches, having drawn their previous two.

“The last three games, let's be honest, have not been so nice to us,” Mosimane said.

“In football, there’s a time for honeymoon and there is a time for going through certain turbulences.

“What's important, is we must get the result. You can't have honeymoon every time.

“I don't mind playing the semifinals and winning the same way again. It's a cup game. You can't have it rosy all the time.”

Equally pleasing for Mosimane was Malajila's form in front of goal. The Zimbabwean international netted his fifth of the season and his third against AmaZulu, earning him a new nickname, “the AmaZulu man”.

However, Mosimane would be in for an anxious wait to hear the extent of Khama Billiat's injury.

Billiat was forced off the pitch 10 minutes into the second half in just his second start of the season, after a long-term foot injury had kept him sidelined for more than three months.

“With Khama, you never know. Unfortunately he's hit by injuries. When you lose Khama in the first half, with an open game like you saw at the end, that’s when we needed him.”

After joining from Ajax Cape Town last year, Billiat made an instant impression under Mosimane at the Brazilians.

The Zimbabwean playmaker would need more time on the field, he said.

“Khama gets into those areas but his last pass, somehow, doesn't come out clearly.

“He's a little bit raw. Khama needs a season or two more, at the highest level. He's a rough diamond, he just needs to be polished.”

Sundowns would know their semifinal opponents on Sunday afternoon when the draw takes place at the FNB Stadium, following Kaizer Chiefs' clash with Platinum Stars.

Sundowns are the third team to secure a last four spot, after SuperSport United edged Wits 2-1 and Orlando Pirates thumped Ajax Cape Town 4-1.

Sapa

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