Mamelodi Sundowns could find themselves in trouble if they don't fix what appears to be their weakness, especially in their upcoming two crucial CAF Champions League matches.
Two of Sundowns' recent losses this season have come from the inability to defend set-pieces or long balls after Polokwane City edged them 1-0 from a long set-piece floated into the area and finished by Bulelani Nikani.
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In the Carling Knockout final against Magesi FC, they also lost 2-1, with both goals conceded coming from crosses into the box.
Against Maniema Union, in a lacklustre goalless draw in the opening CAF Champions League Group B encounter, The Brazilians actually almost lost after the Democratic Republic of Congo side created two big chances from corner kicks, with one of them rattling the crossbar.
The Green and Black seemingly used a tactic similar to Dikwena, of targeting Sundowns' near post and waiting to finish off flicks in the box.
"Win the first ball. It could have resulted into a goal if they did not deal with the first ball. You don't allow strikers to edge you, especially in that first pole," Hlompho Kekana lamented on SABC Sport TV.
"We were let off the hook. Had they scored, we would be talking a different story, which is where we conceded against Magesi. That first pole, you need to be aware, you need the best headers to deal with the ball," the former club captain said.
The Tshwane giants will be up against Moroccan outfits AS FAR and Raja Casablanca in the space of a week in their upcoming two matches from 7 December.
It's an open secret that the North Africans master the art of scoring from set-plays and long balls into the box, which is an area they could be targeted in and need to improve on, as suggested by former Banyana Banyana captain Simphiwe Dludlu.
"First phase of defending, second phase of defending set-pieces, that's where Sundowns need to improve," Dludlu said on a platform she shared with Kekana.
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"They still have Raja and AS FAR to play and those teams play Champions League football [good on set-plays]."
Masandawana will be back in action when they welcome Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership on Saturday evening at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.