Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi admits they are missing top goalscorer Peter Shalulile after they failed to score in their MTN8 semi-final second-leg defeat to Orlando Pirates on Saturday.

The Brazilians were eliminated from the top eight competition after they fell to a 3-0 defeat to the Buccaneers through a goal by former player Kermit Erasmus and a brace by Monnapule Saleng at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Shalulile, who celebrated his 29th birthday yesterday, is one of a few key players on their injury list after he was sidelined for their Caf Champions League preliminary second-round stages as well as the MTN8 second-leg encounter.

Mngqithi admits they are beginning to feel the absence of their target man in the squad, despite scoring 16 goals in four matches without Shalulile present in the squad.

“We would be lying when we are saying we are not missing Peter [and] that is why we tried the best we can not to expose it to everyone that he’s out, because we know everybody knows how dependent we are in his ability to finish our chances and also to cause a lot of threats.

“[Shalulile] gives us a chance from the first line of defense with his high press and speed, that to a certain extent had an effect on the whole team.”

“We were consoling ourselves with the number of goals that we scored prior to this match in three matches, but we knew for a fact that at some point if we don’t take our chances we might be exposed that we don’t have a player of Peter Shalulile’s calibre.”

Photo by Shaun Roy/BackpagePix