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JOHANNESBURG. — Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic says the Buccaneers were taught a lesson by a gritty FC Platinum in their CAF Champions League showdown at the Orlando Stadium on Friday night. The Bucs had to come back from two goals down, scoring twice in the last 10 minutes, to pick a point in a match in which the impressive visitors even missed a penalty.
“Nobody in football is guaranteed (to win). We were taught a lesson by Platinum, who, as we warned, are proud people and will come to play,” explained Micho.
“In their previous four matches they had been outscored but not outplayed, and as such they came into this match looking at the fact that we needed to win and come all out.
“They surprised us with elements of high-pressing and so it was very hard to enter through the midfield.
“They also surprised us by beating our first line (of defence) very often in the first half, and that gave them space to counter-attack and score the two goals.”
But the Serbian also insisted that their shortfalls in the first stanza was not football-related but mental, and a pep-talk as well as the two substitutes were crucial to their fight-back.
“At half-time, the problem (to address) was more mental than football. It was needed from our technical team to push the players out of their comfort zone and convince them that a comeback is possible,” he added.
“We then put two players — Augustine Mulenga and Thamsanqa Gabuza — and it paid us back. We didn’t lose our heads even when the score was still 2-0 with 10 minutes to go.
“We then scored that first goal that literally gave us wings to score the second, and it was a great come-back that proved once more that 2-0 is the most dangerous scoreline in football.
“We had a chance for the third goal, but football gods told us, “Look, it’s not enough,’ so we missed that chance.
But congratulations to Platinum, we really tried our best.
“I must give credit to the players for their character shown — it was not easy, it’s like getting two slaps and then having to bounce back. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be that we get all three points.” — Kick-Off.
Online Reporter