Orlando Pirates‘ hard-tackling midfielder Makhehleni Makhaula says Stellenbosch FC made it difficult for them by dropping deep and defending with every player behind the ball following their disappointing stalemate.
The Buccaneers were kept at bay by 10-man Stellies after Brian Onyango was given his marching orders in the first half after bringing down Tshegofatso Mabasa who was through on goal.
Despite playing the majority of the match with one man up, the Buccaneers failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage as the tie ended 0-0 which saw them fall further behind on 18 points after Mamelodi Sundowns beat AmaZulu 2-0 in their match.
“For me, I could say we contained them nice,” Makhaula told the Pirates media.
“Whatever spaces they needed, they didn’t get. We knew that when we closed down [Devin] Titus and [Andre] De Jong, it was gonna be game over for them.
“We did that and unfortunately they got a red card.
“I think playing against 10 men is quite difficult because they always drop, they always defend all of them.
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“It was a bit difficult. You know Stellenbosch, coming to Cape Town playing them is always going to be a difficult match.
“We’ll take the point away from home even though like we didn’t want to take a point.
“That’s what we gonna take from here.”
