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Middendorp disagrees with Sundowns' penalty

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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 09: Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp before the DStv Premiership match between Cape Town Spurs and Mamelodi Sundowns at Athlone Stadium on April 09, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 09: Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp before the DStv Premiership match between Cape Town Spurs and Mamelodi Sundowns at Athlone Stadium on April 09, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)

Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp felt Mamelodi Sundowns should not have been awarded a penalty on Tuesday night.

Sundowns walked away with maximum points thanks to a penalty scored by Lucas Ribeiro Costa just before the interval.

Middendorp says the penalty incident, where Peter Shalulile was fouled by Asenele Velebayi happened outside the box.

"Ja I'm quite sure the foul was outside (the box), I don't think you have to give a penalty but I have to watch it again. I just don't want to waste my energy anymore, they made the decision at half-time, let's just leave it, we have no influence," Middendorp said on SuperSport TV.

"Before the game, our experience in the last two matches… We had the possibility to score. In the first-half I think Ashley (Cupido) had a good possibility, in the second-half he had an opportunity, crossbar.

"I think over 90 minutes implementing a new setup, totally new. We've trained it for only two days, different. We've played three defence line before, very narrow, they had the understanding, I think it worked out very well, despite of course a certain dominance in the first-half," he said.

"You can't deny, it's normal you're playing Sundowns, you have to give them these moments but I think good reaction during the second-half. Ja, good, it's definitely something where we can move on.

"A game like this today is not about to reduce the distance to position 15, not a game against Sundowns, we have to be focused, concentrated, put a shift, leave out individual mistakes. I think everybody knows, before the penalty, it could have been done differently, of course we'll have a look at it and let's see. I think seven matches to go, of course five points to the position we're targeting but there's still a chance."

The former Kaizer Chiefs coach continued and said that his team deserved the support they got from the supporters in the stands who came out in numbers.

"Ja, this is definitely deserved that the team get this acknowledgement. They did well, they produced not only a kick and rush. They produced good combinations, the chance we had was not by accident, it was definitely out of a certain pattern," Middendorp said.

"But good, in the end you have to score. But I think despite 1-0 down, you have to chase the game and you have to keep the shape and to keep so solid in our defensive work. I think it's something also very important for me."

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