Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has admitted that they need to find a way to beat Kaizer Chiefs who have somewhat become a hoodoo team of late.
The Cape Winelands outfit have beaten Amakhosi just once in their last eight encounters in all competitions with this fixture always producing a lot of controversy including red cards and penalties.
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After yet another loss against Chiefs, Barker stated that they need to find a way past Chiefs when the sides meet again. On Sunday, Stellies were reduced to 10-men inside 13 minutes when Siviwe Nkwali was sent off with the resulting freekick from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo making it 1-0 for the visitors.
Stellenbosch hit the upright twice in the first half before Brandon Petersen produced an audacious one-hand save from Devin Titus’ shot on target and Chiefs also had their chances from Naledi Hlongwane and Wandile Duba, but both went over the crossbar.
Deep in the second half, Omega Mdaka brought down Ashley du Preez in the penalty box, and Glody Lilepo remained calm and converted the spot kick to make it 2-0 and seal the victory for Amakhosi.
“Yeah, unfortunately, it’s been of late. It hasn’t always been the case. I think we’ve got our fair share of results in the past, but yeah, of late, it just seems to be a team that just seems to have won over us right now,” Barker told the media.
“So yeah, it’s unfortunate, and the next time we play them, we obviously have to really find a way to get ourselves a win against them.
“But yeah, if they took their goal, it always feels like a double blow when you get a red card and a goal against you at the same time. So, you know, sometimes it’s not worth the red card because you’d rather be one nil down than have 10 men; your chance of getting a point is probably higher than they not scoring.
“And you 10 men down and it’s 0-0 then probably the advantage they still get the result at the end of the day. So, it was just a big blow for us, and it’s not the first time against Chiefs that there’s been a red card or an incident that led to them winning the game.
“So yeah, it’s not through lack of effort or trying to beat them. It’s just seems like our luck against them is just not where it should be right now, but we need to be better in certain situations.”
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