Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi was not convinced with FAR’s goal while maintaining an optimistic attitude with regards to Masandawana’s CAF Champions League journey despite collecting two points in two matches. 

The Brazilians played out to a 1-1 stalemate away to AS FAR on Saturday evening to register their second draw in as many games for the Champions League group stages.

Downs had initially failed to utilize home-ground advantage in their first game of the group stages when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Maniema of Congo DRC. 

Despite a shaky start, the South African side maintains a second position, with all teams having played an equal amount of games and FAR topping the standings having beaten Raja Casablanca in their first game. 

Having played their normal game, dominant in ball possession and creating a greater amount of goal-scoring opportunities, the Downs coach is convinced of a positive result in the return leg when they welcome the Moroccans to Pretoria. 

“I don’t think it makes our mission in the group very difficult because I think we played very well and in normal circumstances, a match like this you win but we did not win. But it’s still a very valuable point away from home and we still going to play them at home and this thing can tilt immediately  when we play against them at home,” he said. 

The former Golden Arrows coach further commended the shift pulled by his troops under hostile conditions at the Ben M’hamed El Adbi stadium, also adding his praises for the opposition coach Hubert Velud.

“They’ve got a bit of an advantage at the moment, but the fact that we got two points can change this thing completely, you must be aware. We are very confident we will do well, and I’m also very happy with how we played, also commending the good work of their coach. I think is an intelligent coach because he saw a very big overload, immediately before even the first 20 minutes, he made some changes within the structure of the team, and that for me was a sign of somebody who was fully aware of what was happening on the bench. I gave a lot of credit to that,” said Mngqithi. 

The 53-year-old however did not forget to mention his lack of conviction with the FAR’s equalizing goal, insisting that one of his players was fouled in the process, granting an unfair advantage to the hosts’ attack. 

“They are a very good team. We knew that (Rabie) Hrimat would cause a problem in the far post and unfortunately, in a moment where I think my right was fouled in the AS box and immediately from there, they got a transition, and they managed to score. But I’m not yet sure at the moment because I was not looking at it on the video, but I do believe Khuliso Mudau was fouled inside the box,” insisted the Downs gaffer. 

Sundowns’ next challenge in Africa’s most prestigious interclub competition will be another trip to Morocco where they will face the Botola Pro League champions in Raja Casablanca next Sunday.