Referee Robert Smith tried to keep it clean and simple in yesterday’s Nedbank Cup quarterfinal with his every call under scrutiny.
The clash between Black Aces and Mamelodi Sundowns in Nelspruit, a second meeting involving the two sides in four days, was preceded by the match officiating drama in their league encounter last week.
But Smith, despite some moments which threatened to spill over, got over the line. And so did Sundowns with a 2-0 win that sent them flying into the semifinal of the competition.
In their league game last Wednesday, Pitso Mosimane delivered an extraordinary rant about the declining standards of refereeing in South Africa.
The Sundowns coach’s comments were especially aimed at Thabo Nkosi, the man in the middle when the Brazilians dropped two crucial points at Mbombela Stadium following a 1-1 stalemate with Aces.
“We also have to congratulate the referee. I haven’t seen Smith performing so well for a long time. Maybe people think I am saying this because we won two-nil, but this is how I saw it. There was no drama, and that’s when Sundowns come out,” Mosimane said after the match.
Pundits and commentators applauded referee Smith for being vigilant in what was perhaps psychologically a tense match. Sundowns really got going in the second half and as such were able to score the two goals, courtesy of midfielders Teko Modise and Themba Zwane.
The first from Modise came after Aces goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane was caught out of position by the floating free kick, which then resulted in Sundowns grabbing the lead just before the hour mark. Modise had also scored the only goal for Downs against Aces last week through a penalty.
Aces didn’t play like a side desperate to claw their way back into the game and the Brazilians hurt them again in the 75th minute when former player Zwane broke through and his ambitious attempt beat Bafana keeper Mabokgwane.
Progressing to the semifinals gives Sundowns another opportunity to win silverware this season.