Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane believes he saw the real Downs team in the final 10 minutes of their win over Golden Arrows, adding he hopes he now has his team back as the title race heats up.

The Brazilians had failed to win a single game since the league restart coming into the game against Steve Komphela’s charges.

Mosimane knew it was a golden opportunity to cut down Chiefs’ lead at the top, but they were met by a stubborn and determined Arrows side.

The Brazilians struggled to break down the side from Durban until Mosimane turned to his bench to bring on Themba Zwane, Lebohang Maboe and Sibusiso Vilakazi.

The defending champions then began to turn up the heat and eventually managed to force a winner in the 90th minute.

Speaking after the game, Mosimane expressed his delight at how his team finished the game.

‘Very emotional game for us, very difficult, but we were patient to win,’ said the Downs coach.

‘The last five/ten minutes I saw Sundowns playing, so I hope my team is back. I hope the last 10 minutes was Mamelodi Sundowns that could play against a reinforced defence. We’re used to playing against a reinforced defence, in fact we’re more dangerous when the defence is reinforced.

‘Good mentality from the substitutes that were coming in. Very important players came on, players that always win the game for us – Vilakazi, Themba Zwane, Maboe.

‘Yoh, I’m so happy because I had Themba Zwane back. I told him that he has to patient, he has to preserve and that we love him. I’m happy he scored, but I’m more happy that the pass came from Lebo because he has also had a lot of stress and pressure.

‘We won the game a difficult game. We have been fighting to win, since we have been in the bubble we have scored nine goals. How can you score nine goals but we don’t get the chance to win one match?

‘It’s about time. It’s not luck, we have fought for it, we have been fighting … it’s just that we haven’t kept zero behind [clean sheet] but the goals were there.

‘Good for us, good confidence and, ja, we move on,’ concluded Mosimane.