Coetzee, a converted central defender, shone as a holding midfielder in a 4-1 win over the Buccaneers in a Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The Bafana Bafana international dominated the pace of the game and set up the opening goal of the match scored by Peter Shalulile.
Goals by Themba Zwane, Lesedi Kapinga and captain Hlompho Kekana ensured a dominant win as Sundowns advanced to the competition s semi-finals.
Speaking after the final whistle, Mngqithi hailed the qualities of Coetzee while favourably comparing him to some of the best midfielders in the game. His passing range is unbelievable and we knew when we converted him into central midfield that very few midfielders have the passing range of Rivaldo, Mngqithi told SuperSport TV.
Nedbank Cup after outclassing Orlando Pirates to win
4-1 in a thrilling encounter at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Thursday.
Goals by Themba Zwane, Lesedi Kapinga and captain Hlompho Kekana followed a Peter Shalulile opener for the Brazilians as Thsegofatso Mabasa struck a consolation goal for the Buccaneers.
It was a dominant performance from Sundowns that solidified their status as this country s premier football club.
Sundowns were first to strike with the in-form Shalulile giving the hosts the lead in the 11th minute with a clinical low strike after a quality pass over the top by Rivaldo Coetzee.
The home side continued to look threatening during the opening 20 minutes with Coetzee dictating the game from a deep-lying midfield position.
Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer conceded that Mamelodi Sundowns were simply the better team after their 4-1 loss in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.
Pirates looked to be in the game after Tshegofatso Mabasa cancelled out Peter Shalulile s early opener but an early goal in the second stanza by Themba Zwane gave Sundowns the edge, before Lesedi Kapinga and Hlompho Kekana added two further late goals to sink the Buccaneers. Ja, disappointed, it s clear the result looks not 100 percent the game but it was not enough today you can win this game, Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV. In the first-half, ten, 20 minutes were completely out of the game, we were not in, then we get the goal, then maybe it was a wake up call, we came closer to our goals, then we scored.
Apr 15, 2021 - 09:28 pm By Staff Reporter
Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi says Rhulani Mokoena gave them good insight on the Orlando Pirates players after their Nedbank Cup drubbing.
Sundowns booked their spot in the semi-finals thanks to goals by Peter Shalulile, Themba Zwane, Lesedi Kapinga and Hlompho Kekana while Tshegofatso Mabasa scored what proved to be a consolation goal for Pirates.
Mokoena, who spent a couple seasons as Pirates assistant, offered Sundowns technical team some insight on a few individuals. I think the game panned out the way we anticipated it, a lot of good work from coach Rhulani [Mokwena] in giving us better insight on individual players, their challenges and it showed immensely on the performance, Mngqithi told SuperSport TV.
Marc Strydom > By Marc Strydom - 02 April 2021 - 18:42 Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ricardo Goss. Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix/Gallo Images
Mamelodi Sundowns preserved their unbeaten record in Group B of the 2020-21 Caf Champions League, but dropped their first points, drawing 0-0 against Sudan’s Al-Hilal at Al-Hilal Stadium in Omdurman on Friday.
Sundowns had already qualified and confirmed first place with rampant form taking them to four wins from four, including their 2-0 victory against Hilal in the first round in Pretoria.
Next challengers Hilal had three points (which went to four with the draw on Friday), Algeria’s CR Belouizdad also three, and Democratic Republic of the Congo’s TP Mazembe just two.