Mamelodi Sundowns’ loss in the Carling Knockout final left question marks on their ability to win cups having lost their third straight final.
Sundowns suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Magesi FC in a game they dominated and were overwhelming favourites to win and it is now becoming a pattern for the Brazilians in cup finals.
This is because it was the third straight cup final in which they had bottled after either taking the lead and letting it slip or dominating and failing to utilise their opportunities.
Sundowns dominated Magesi, especially in the first half when they should have completed the job, and it was largely down to the good saves of Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze that kept Clinton Larsen’s team in the game before they scored twice in the second half to win the cup.
Mngqithi struggling to understand what ails them
It was the same story in the Nedbank Cup final in June when Sundowns put Orlando Pirates on the backfoot for most of the game but still lost out courtesy of a last-minute goal, just like on Saturday.
The two teams had also faced off in the MTN8 final earlier in the season with Pirates securing the trophy following a post-match penalty shootout.
It leaves fans questioning why Sundowns cannot complete the job in cup matches when they have been so dominant in the league where they have claimed seven straight PSL titles.
“We've gone into a spell where things are just not going our way in cup matches. I really cannot not put a finger on it, because I remember, even in the game against Pirates (in June), I think we were on 70-30 per cent in terms of position,” Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi said after the match, struggling to identify what is ailing them in cup finals.
Will Sundowns end their poor record in cup finals?
“We did everything right again and but unfortunately, in the latter stages of the game, they created a call out of nothing, and we lost the final.
“I wouldn't blame anything on the team, but in football, you must know that sometimes you will win, sometimes you lose.”
However, as he searches for answers, doubts are getting into their fans who are left feeling cheated after their team records impressive results on their way to finals but fall short when it matters most.
As per the statistics, no team has been to the final of each PSL domestic competition but returned without the trophy more often than Sundowns who have lost 15 finals.
Contract this with Pirates who have made the last five finals and won all of them. Whether not playing well or conceding first, Jose Riveiro always find a way to go home with a trophy, something Sundowns need to grasp quickly or they will turn into cup bottlers, their league form and pedigree notwithstanding.
