We came, we conquered: Pitso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane praised the patience displayed by his team, which never panicked, assuring that a goal would come in their 1-0 Super Cup win against Touit Puissant Mazembe.

Downs displayed all of the experience gained in the past year in becoming 2016 African Champions and participating in the Fifa Club World Cup, muscling out CAF Confederation Cup winners Mazembe from Democratic Republic of Congo with their tactical superiority.

In a frenetic start, the Brazilians attacked hard, but let striker Ben Malango slip through to hit the post.

They then slowed things down and took control from the 15th minute and their patient probing game yielded good chances. But it was only when skipper Hlompho Kekana was brought down with 10 minutes left to play, that Ricardo Nascimento was able to roll in an 83rd-minute winner from the penalty spot.

"It was a difficult game against credible opponents. You could see in the first 10 minutes that they had a better temperament than we did," Mosimane said.

"They showed that they are used to big games. We were a little bit fortunate with that chance that hit the post.

"I wonder how we would have reacted had that gone in.

"But this is how football works. I told the guys, 'We need to control and dominate the game'.

"And Loftus is like Atteridgeville. If we control the game we know goals will come.

"I'm proud of the boys. Ok, they had a bit of anxiety at the beginning. But it comes with the package - the stage was a bit frightening, to be honest, because you're playing the mighty Mazembe.

"But after 15 minutes, we managed to get the ball on the ground. And what I'm happy about is we played the way Sundowns play. We never rushed; we were patient.

"We knew the goal was going to come. Yes, we were a bit nervous that it might not come, especially when we missed the biggest opportunity by Anthony Laffor [missing the target].

"But I don't think there's any dispute about Mazembe and Sundowns.

"I know it's a different game in Lubumbashi. But they came here twice and we've defeated them twice, with the same scoreline.

"What's left is to go to Lubumbashi and try and win there."

Mazembe came into the match with greater experience and a more impressive pedigree, having won the Champions League five times in total and three since 2009.

They have also won the Super Cup three times. But Sundowns' victory means that they, too, have begun the process of establishing a continental pedigree.

The pressure on Saturday night stemmed from Downs' need to confirm their status as the best African club and a defeat on home ground against Mazembe might have derailed them.

Lifting the Super Cup brings to an end a cycle of just over a year-and-a-half in which Downs won the 2015-16 Absa Premiership and then became the 2016 CAF Champions League champions.

Now they need to turn their attention to the task of defending their PSL and Champions League titles, and fulfilling their desire to return to the Club World Cup this year, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates in December.