Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi says the defeat to Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 is a needed "wake-up call".
Sundowns went down 1-0 to Stellies in the MTN8 semi-final first-leg, who scored from the penalty spot through Fawaaz Basadien in the second stanza.
Mngqithi says they only started to play after conceding with 30 minutes to go.
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"We made it difficult for ourselves, because we started to see a team that we would like to see immediately after we conceded. The speed of the ball was faster, we were already looking to probe as much as possible and we created opportunities," Mngqithi told SuperSport TV.
"But unfortunately when you don't take your opportunities inside the box, you get punished with a penalty like this one. But the truth of the matter is first-half we didn't control the game very well, we were a little bit scattered.
"When we improved second-half and we brought the full-backs shorter to try and assist in our build ups, I think we penetrated a little bit better but its still the first-half, second-half is still gonna give us more."
The 53-year-old coach went on and said the loss is a good wake up call to a team that is used to winning.
"Honestly speaking, I still think there's still a long way but we know at Sundowns we're expected to get the results in every game and I do believe we'll get the results. I do believe in the second round [second-leg] you'll see a completely different team," the former Golden Arrows coach said.
"We needed this probably as a wake-up call, because when you keep winning and winning even when you've not really done exceptionally well, it creates an impression that you're entitled to win.
"And I think this is very good because it will give the team a very good wake-up call and I'm very confident we'll do well in the second round [second-leg]," Mngqithi added.