AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane was left frustrated by the defending Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday night despite the 2-0 loss.
Usuthu came into the match hoping to frustrate their hosts, but second-half goals from Peter Shalulile and Arthur Sales secured the victory for the champions ensuring they claimed maximum points at home.
The win also extended their lead at the top of the table to 58 points, 18 less than second-placed Orlando Pirates who were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Stellenbosch. It gave Masandawana a massive chance of winning the league title for the eighth time in a row.
However, former Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane was not impressed by the time-wasting tactics employed by their hosts. He has further lauded his players for displaying what he felt was a good game against a quality opponent.
‘How many times did Sundowns try to press us but didn’t get the ball?'
“I’ll take you back to the game. How many times did Sundowns try to press us but didn’t get the ball? It tells you about the quality we have in the team. Usually, when Sundowns press you, they’ll get the ball, but with us, they couldn’t do that. I think about six times we came out of the press,” he stated.
“In the first half, they were also frustrated, but the problem is when we got to the final third, we didn’t hurt them but with them; when they come out, they’ll hurt you. So that was the difference.
“Sundowns tried to press in numbers, but we made sure because we also have quality players that can come out of high press, but the final ball to get the right player at the right time was lacking.”
Sundowns wasted time?
Zwane went on to explain why his team felt undone by Sundowns in terms of time management, promising to avenge.
“We got two 1v1 situations, and with the right pass, you go straight to the goalkeeper. We could have gone to half-time leading 1-0. It comes with confidence, but when Sundowns felt pressure, they started kicking the ball, and even their ball boys started rolling the ball, so we are learning, and we’ll also do the same to them,” Zwane continued.
“They are going to have to understand in the future, we’ll teach our ball boys to do the same, to say that now we’re leading and we are playing Sundowns, let’s roll the ball and let them come get it.
“We then fight with the referee, it’s fine. You change the ball boy and bring another one, we tell him the same thing, so we learn that’s football.”
