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MORE AMMO: Birds skipper Lefa Tsutsulupa

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In a 3-3 first-leg draw at Lucas Moripe Stadium both sides could claim they might have been winners had they not conceded soft goals.

Downs perhaps controlled more of the game in attack and spurned numerous chances in between scoring. Swallows were dangerous on the counter-attack and took their chances.

Afterwards Downs coach Johan Neeskens said his defence had not played to instruction in often being caught flat-footed. Neeskens was also criticised for deploying Esrom Nyandoro in defence, where the Zimbabwean struggled to match the Birds frontline for pace.

Brazilians goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands had the best view of his side's defensive display in the first leg. "With Swallows what we've got to do is make sure we're really organised, even when we have the ball," Sandilands said.

He said the first-leg scoreline might work to Sundowns' advantage. "At least we know we have to win. If we had come away with a 1-0 lead it would have been dangerous to go to Dobsonville and try and defend. We just want to play our normal way, and that's to go out and win every game."

Midfield general Teko Modise said the Brazilians feel an obligation to their fans to try to win a trophy. "We know that this season, it's now or never," the Bafana star said. "It's tiring now to always talk about the same thing and say we will, we will, and next thing we don't deliver.

"We have to justify our contracts, and justify being a Sundowns player. If other teams can do it with less quality than we have, then there's a problem within us as players."

Birds captain Lefa Tsutsulupa said the arrival of striker Katlego Mashego, who scored on debut in Swallows's 1-1 league draw against Ajax Cape Town at home on Wednesday, had brought further quality to last season's PSL runners-up:

"He plays well, he plays for the club, and (on Wednesday) he showed it."

Comments

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Thu May 23 23:54:59 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 24, 2012

Papage

@ Sowetan again, Swallows beat Ajax 3 - 1, it was not a draw. eish someone hate the Birds.
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Aug 24, 2012

Papage

Bosso ke mang?
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Aug 24, 2012

Stumaeza

Someone will be chasing the score again with that weak defence.
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Aug 24, 2012

BRA-MAFUTHA

I foresee disaster fela for my Yellow team we have been playing nothing but rubbish lately i won’t be surprised at all when we are being knocked out by the Birds.

Dobsonville here we come because it’s not by choice to follow the Yellow team we r born in it wherever they travel we go with them to draw, to lose, or to winning i will always remain a Yellow man.
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Aug 24, 2012

maftowncity

@BRA-MAFUTHA

I think broer its a win-win situation, and you need to believe in your team,have faith in them,support them...Downs and Swallows have any chance to advance...and by saying you see "disaster" clearly tells me that your morale has gone down....and surely you need to see and understand why BBS didnt play to their true strength...Is it the system the applied on the day?Is it the coach?Is it the players?Is it the technical team?..

If team loses,all loses...the question is/will be WHY? Then WHAT to do?And HOW to do that/And WHEN to do it?

My impression is that BBS played well, and they need to shape up in the park,this is where they were dislocated, and they couldnt tick as expected....so they had to pay the price...!
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Aug 24, 2012

sexyghost

Aaaaaaaagh! Waste of energy and time. With only 230 supporters attending
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Aug 24, 2012

BRA-MAFUTHA

@maftowncity

Unless we fix the back line this team is going down look how we conceded the first two goals against Swallows and Chiefs that’s unacceptable for a team such Sundowns.
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Aug 24, 2012

maftowncity

@BRA-MAFUTHA

You are correct sir,the back line needs to be addressed,they tend to go on a nap,sometimes ball watching, and this is where they got punished...esp playing against teams like Swallows and Chiefs,you cant to do that,you need to be on your toes for the entire 95min...

And i am sure the coach has seen that as well as the players, and remeber BRA-MAFUTHA that,you make one mistake in such games,you get punished, and this is where i think experience players need to come and support players in the field and encourage them to concentrate...and it can happen to any body...but so far,you dont have to press the panic button, BBS will come back to their track baba..and good luck tomorrow..
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Aug 24, 2012

HORATIO7

@Sowetan, really now please check your facts before going to print. Swallows won 3-1 againts Ajax on Wednesday.

what ta hell.

is this jealoursy for the birds or incompetent reporting.

Up theh Birds

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Aug 24, 2012

Phuphethakatha

Shame Sun Flowers, Birds will eat up all those seeds !!!!!!!
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