Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is putting his team's 3-2 defeat against Polokwane City at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday down to the disruption to what had been an in-form team by the Absa Premiership's Christmas break.
Downs remain leaders of the PSL on 28 points from 15 matches as they take on Ajax Cape Town at Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night (kickoff: 7.30pm).
But they will hope to bounce back for a win against Ajax - now under Muhsin Ertugral‚ who replaced Stanley Menzo during the PSL recess - to extend a current one-point lead over second-placed Cape Town City (27 points from 16 games) to four.
After George Lebese gave Downs a third-minute lead against City‚ the Brazilians should have closed the game with four more clear‚ one-on-one chances spurned in the first half on Saturday‚ three to Percy Tau and one to Themba Zwane.
Polokwane grabbed the lead with 58th and 59th-minute goals by Sammy Seabi and Walter Musona before Oupa Manyisa equalised in the 65th. Rodney Ramagalela banged in an 80th-minute winner for City.