(Source: Twitter.com – @Madumetja_M08)
Mamelodi Sundowns will look back at their match against Orlando Pirates at Loftus Verfeld Stadium and feel that they let themselves down. As they had clear opportunities to win the match, especially after Pirates played with 10-man after Miguel Timm was given his second yellow for obstruction of play against the Sundowns shot-stopper Ronwen Williams. This was supposed to be the Buccaneers downfall, but it wasn’t as they were to get back to the game by a rather questionable moment that led to a penalty. This comes after a screenshot of the game that shows a Pirates player Patrick Maswanganyi taking a corner kick, but the ball wasn’t in the original spot in the corner.
Basically, it was outside the marking where the ball has to be when a player takes a corner kick. This means the corner kick wasn’t legitimate as Maswanganyi had it outside the marking, and this gave the visiting side an upper hand to whip the ball to the Sundowns danger zone. That’s when the Buccaneers were able to apply pressure and Downs defense committed a foul in their box which led to a penalty. That’s how the Soweto giants came back to the game, as they made sure it ended on a 1-1 draw.
What’s surprising is that the linesman couldn’t pick up error that was done by Pirates as they didn’t follow the rules of taking a proper corner kick. This has started a conversation online, as the football fraternity called out the officials for not picking up such game changing moments. No-one should be trying to bend the rules of the game, since that could lead to unfair advantage.