Orlando Pirates get beaten soundly by Esperance de Tunis while Mamelodi Sundowns shoot blanks against ASEC Mimosas in the CAF Champions League matchday 4.
Esperance de Tunis 2-0 Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates were handed a 2-0 defeat in their CAF Champions League matchday 4 group stage game away to Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis on Tuesday afternoon.
Orlando Pirates Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic coach insisted that his team was up to the task even though they played an intense, highly emotional, and very boring Soweto derby two days prior.
“We came here immediately after a really tough match on Saturday with the intention to recover, and we did everything possible to do so physically and mentally,”
“We entered the match very strongly and did very well until one moment of losing concentration cost us so much in that set-piece.
“Once you fall down, as we did in the first half, you’re practically forced to put yourself in extra-attacking mode, risking and using more striking forces to try and equalise.
“During the period of looking to equalise, we conceded the second goal which practically put the game beyond our control.”
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It is unfortunate that Pirates had to play two of the biggest games on their season within 72 hours of each other but shit happens. Pirates didn’t look good yesterday and haven’t looked convincing over the past five games. Their defense has been shaky, their attack; wishy-washy, and their goalscoring; ‘are-they-really-paying-a-finishing-coach?’ Esperance never looked worried. I knew they’d win after they scored the first goal. This Orlando Pirates team looks psychically and mentally fatigued and it doesn’t when the same players are playing every game.
https://twitter.com/cheez_zoboblog/status/1095338507411705856
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ASEC Mimosas 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns and the Ivorian outfit ASEC Mimosas played to a dull goalless draw in the CAF Champions League in Abidjan on Tuesday evening.
I didn’t get the opportunity to watch this game because Eskom hadn’t unbundled yet in my area. But from what I could gather from those lucky enough to have electricity; it was as entertaining as watching YouTube videos of paint drying.
Asked if he was happy with the result after the game, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane said:
“Yes and no. Yes because we got to seven points. We got a point away from home. No, because we had opportunities. We suffer from finishing. We got two chances on the counter-attack, but we made the wrong decision.
“I asked the players why we could not properly make use of the opportunity on counter-attack because ASEC was desperate. They complain about the surface of the pitch because when they go out the ball bounces and you are running at high speed. I think the pitch does not help ASEC, because ASEC is technical, they pass very well, so the pitch is not helping ASEC. So it’s very difficult.”
This wasn’t a must-win game for Sundowns but it was a game they couldn’t afford to lose. Downs are now level on points with Wydad Casablanca ontop the group A standings. Their season is starting to gather momentum as the teams with fewer resources fall to the wayside.