Mamelodi Sundowns prepared for that opening goal after studying Kaizer Chiefs recent kick-offs, according to head coach Rulani Mokwena.
Sundowns netted after 10 seconds, the fastest goal in MTN8 history, when Peter Shalulile pressed goalkeeper Brandon Petersen and forced an error before slotting the opening goal.
Chiefs head coach Molefi Ntseki stated after the game it was a tactical instruction from the technical team that went wrong and they are accountable for.
And when discussing whether Chiefs tactical system was the way to get the better of Masadawana, Mokwena revealed how they played for the swift opener.
“A lot have tried [to beat us with an aggressive press], and we have still beaten them, Chiefs tried and we beat them, so we have to answer the questions, it’s football,” Mokwena said when asked if the high-press is the key to beating Sundowns.
“Some will sit low, some will sit high, some will have the mid-to-low block, some will do it in phases, we did it to Pirates, we were very aggressive, we did it to Chiefs in our first home game.
“From homework, we knew exactly what happens when they kick off the ball and we knew what Ditholkwe does, and we know what… there’s a big difference if you watch how they kicked off in the first leg and what we did.
“And check how we reacted today when they kicked off. We work very very hard, we pick up small details the players are able to execute. You know we don’t play along and how many times we beat the press today was also very good.”
Mokwena says they actually thrive and enjoy being pressed high, as opposed to trying to break down the low-block as they have the right profile of composed players in their defensive options that can propel them into attacking positions from the back.
“We’re helped by players like Riva… we missed Mothobi [Mvala] a bit with his ability to be a bit more patient and wait for the press, and we lacked that a little today. But we enjoy the press, we train to beat the press a lot because it has so many advantages when you do that,” he added.
“So credit to Chiefs, they press a bit more different to other teams, they put pressure to the sides, they directed us to left a bit in the first half, we found some solutions at half-time but yeah, it’s interesting, football has a lot of tactical questions but I’m glad our boys were able to answer the questions [against Chiefs].”
Sundowns will face the winner between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch in the MTN8 final.
