Ndola — Mamelodi Sundowns’ defensive performance was poor‚ admitted captain Hlompho Kekana after his side’s 2-1 Caf Champions League first leg defeat against Zesco United in Ndola on Saturday.

Downs were left desperately fighting back after — having only disjointedly held Zesco’s attack in the first half — they capitulated to a lightning brace by Jackson Mwanza in the 54th and 56th minutes.

The Brazilians’ defensive performance was poor‚ as their left side of Tebogo Langerman and Thabo Nthethe struggled especially against elusive Kenyan striker Jesse Were. Under pressure from Zesco’s pressing‚ Downs resorted to ineffective long balls in attack.

It was only in the 87th minute‚ in a counterattack initiated by Keagan Dolly‚ that Khama Billiat was able to finish under huge pressure for a priceless away goal that has left the advantage marginally to the team from Pretoria in the second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

“We are excited as a team. We worked very hard to achieve that goal‚” Kekana said.

“We wanted it just to boost ourselves and leave ourselves in a very good position. I think we stand a good chance because we scored away. It’s a very important goal for us.”

Kekana admitted Downs struggled to get their passing game together on a well-grassed but bumpy pitch‚ and were not always convincing dealing with a Zesco attack that had scored 24 goals in 12 games in the Champions League.

“We saw that coming because we had analysed them in our video sessions. We saw that their attack is very powerful‚” the Bafana Bafana defensive midfielder said.

“We worked on it. But I think we really need to do better in terms of defending. The goals we conceded were scrappy.

“It’s always difficult to play on such a surface. But we can’t complain about that.

“As a team we really need to look at ourselves and try to look in a very positive way‚ to say‚ ‘We scored away. What else can we ask for?’.

“And now we really need to try and win the match at home.”

Sundowns have clearly missed Leonardo Castro since his absence from injury. The big Colombian centre-forward provides the focal point in attack for Downs as part of the vaunted “CBD” (Castro‚ Khama Billiat‚ Dolly) frontline.

Billiat‚ asked to lead the line on Saturday rather than his normal deep‚ roaming creative role‚ struggled against the physical Zesco central defenders.

Kekana was reluctant to point to Castro’s absence playing a role in Downs struggling here in Ndola.

“I wouldn’t say much about the attack. I think a team at a team of Mamelodi Sundowns’ calibre everyone who plays for it needs to contribute‚” he said.

“We fought. We tried as a team. You saw the young Percy Tau finding himself in very good scoring positions‚ but the anxiety crept in for the boy.

“But I think we really need to keep putting ourselves in those positions to see ourselves in the final of this tournament.”

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane seems likely to field a B team in his side’s midweek MTN8 semifinal second leg match against Chippa United at Lucas Moripe‚ where the scoreline is locked at 0-0 from the first leg in Port Elizabeth.

Billiat's away African Champions League goal in Zambia delights Mosimane

Things cannot always go exactly according to plan in football‚ said Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane‚ who admitted Khama Billiat’s late goal has kept his side in their Caf Champions League semifinal tie against Zesco United.

Until the 87th minute‚ and Billiat’s excellent late strike‚ keeping his cool in front of goal under enormous pressure‚ Downs had been out of the first leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola‚ Zambia on Saturday.

A disjointed and out of sorts back four had been stretched and had holes poked through it by Zesco’s dangerous‚ fast attack‚ including a lightning brace by Jackson Mwanza in the 54th and 56th minutes.

On a counter-attack started by Keagan Dolly‚ feeding Anthony Laffor down the right to cross‚ Billiat provided the cool finish that has left the tie in the balance‚ though the crucial away goal perhaps even hands Downs a slight advantage.

“You know football always gives you surprises‚” Mosimane — relieved‚ though also struggling to contain a hint of excitement that the scoreline is not a bad one by any stretch to take to Saturday’s second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium — said afterwards.

The Brazilians’ coach was far from pleased with the performance‚ but pleased at a fightback and the character shown by his team‚ while also ruefully philosophical about the unpredictability of the sport he has played in‚ and has chosen to coach in.

“When we went to Chippa for the away game in the MTN8‚ we were trying to get an away goal‚” Mosimane mused.

“We did not get an away goal‚ but we did not lose. We weren’t happy but we said it was OK‚ though could be better.

“And then we asked for an away goal in Zambia. We got an away goal‚ but we lost. So we’re still also a thorn in the flesh.

“So what is there is exactly what is there in football. In football they say you must put the best team. You can never get it right all the time. It always gives you this or that.

“You can’t have the cake and eat it. You can’t have what you really want. You just have to play for everything.”

Sundowns will need to pay attention to their defence in the coming week building up to the second leg‚ where especially left-back Tebogo Langerman and centreback Thabo Nthethe were repeatedly exposed by Zesco’s elusive Kenyan striker Jesse Were.

This will be difficult though‚ as Mosimane juggles having to play in Wednesday’s second leg of the MTN8 semifinal against Chippa United at Lucas Moripe – where his is likely to play a B side – with preparing his Champions League starting line-up. — TMG Digital