Komphela plots Downs' demise

Free State Stars coach Steve Komphela believes it's getting harder for opponents to beat log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

He said yesterday that Sundowns seemed to have shaken off their inability to keep the heat on opponents for the entire 90 minutes - especially when they are enjoying the majority of the ball possession.

Komphela, who believes Stars are the dark horses in the league title-race this season, hopes to achieve the difficult feat of handing the Pretoria team their third league defeat when the teams clash at Charles Mopeli Stadium tonight.

Stars are fifth on the log following their 2-1 defeat by Kaizer Chiefs at Soccer City on Saturday - a game Komphela is adamant they should have won had it not been for "bad refereeing".

"It is true that Sundowns are becoming harder to beat as they gain confidence with every game. But we've also been kicked down because of points being denied to us in previous games.

"We've looked at Sundowns closely and we know what makes them tick. Their win against Supersport United was also helped by defensive blunders from the opposition's back four."

Komphela has spent the week improving his team's rearguard.

"We have to get the three points in this matc h because, as much as decisions have gone against us, we can't be stopped in reaching our objectives."

One thing Komphela does not deny is the depth in the Sundowns team. And that could turn coach Johan Neeskens' season around after failing to win the MTN8 and the Telkom Knockout.

"You can't deny the fact that they have bigger pockets than anyone else and that shows when you look at their bench," Komphela said.

"They can keep Mphela on the bench. That says a lot."

Despite leading the scorers' charts with nine goals, Mphela has come off the bench in five of the 14 matches for Sundowns. With Nyasha Mushekwi scoring goals - five this season - he is likely to start from the bench tonight.

After their 3-1 drubbing of Supersport, a win that took Sundowns to top spot on the league table, Neeskens has been dishing out compliments to his team.

"I think we are no longer just good in the first half. A lot of people said we only play for 45 minutes and give up," said Neeskens.

"We scored three goals against a team that was yet to lose at home and I must give my players a huge compliment for coming from 1-0 down to win the game. They showed character."