Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler said he could not have asked any more from his players in a fighting 1-0 defeat to Etoile Du Sahel in Sunday’s Caf Confederation Cup final second-leg 1-0 defeat at Stade Olympique de Sousse.
Clearly disappointed and deflated having watched his side give Etoile a war in front of a superbly vocal home crowd to concede the final 2-1 on aggregate‚ Tinkler said Bucs started nervously.
“I think we did give it all. I’m very‚ very proud of the boys‚” Tinkler said.
“We started a bit nervy in the first half‚ I felt. I think the players were a bit scared to concede. We were giving the ball away cheaply and playing the long ball. And against the wind it wasn’t helping us – the ball was just coming back constantly.
“They were winning the second ball. They were a bit quicker to get to the ball than us.
“But I felt the goal they got was fortuitous. Unfortunately it ricocheted off our own player‚ caught Felipe Ovono by surprise and went into the back of the net.
“But I felt the best chance in the first half actually came from us. I thought Thabo Rakhale should have done a lot better‚ and we wold have gone in at halftime at least 1-1‚ with everything open again.
“In the second half we responded extremely well. We told the players to put the ball on the deck‚ pass it and move with a lot more speed.
“We told Lehlogonolo Masalesa to play a lot higher up the field and support Gift Motupa. And it worked.
“We really dominated. Created great chances – Rakhale had a great chance again‚ took another touch and their keeper could smother. A ricochet hit their keeper in the face‚ the free-kick from Sifiso Myeni.
“But fantastic performance in the second half – I thought we should have got a bit more from it.”
The coach said that conceding Ammar Jemal’s late goal in the first leg at Orlando Stadium gave Etoile the freedom to play with less pressure at home. Tinkler was impressed with how the Tunisian club utilised that advantage to muscle to a lead in the first half here.
“The first half they showed a lot more aggression. Physically they are stronger than us. And we can’t make it that sort of battle.
“But they’re a good team. No-one can take that away from them. And a team who have shown at home they are formidable.”
Pirates lost their second continental final in three years‚ having been defeated by Egypt’s Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League in 2013. The Buccaneers were seeking their first Confed trophy‚ having won the 1995 Champions Cup and 1996 Super Cup. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Tinkler ‘very‚ very proud of the boys’ despite defeat
Clearly disappointed and deflated having watched his side give Etoile a war in front of a superbly vocal home crowd to concede the final 2-1 on aggregate‚ Tinkler said Bucs started nervously.
“I think we did give it all. I’m very‚ very proud of the boys‚” Tinkler said.
“We started a bit nervy in the first half‚ I felt. I think the players were a bit scared to concede. We were giving the ball away cheaply and playing the long ball. And against the wind it wasn’t helping us – the ball was just coming back constantly.
“They were winning the second ball. They were a bit quicker to get to the ball than us.
“But I felt the goal they got was fortuitous. Unfortunately it ricocheted off our own player‚ caught Felipe Ovono by surprise and went into the back of the net.
“But I felt the best chance in the first half actually came from us. I thought Thabo Rakhale should have done a lot better‚ and we wold have gone in at halftime at least 1-1‚ with everything open again.
“In the second half we responded extremely well. We told the players to put the ball on the deck‚ pass it and move with a lot more speed.
“We told Lehlogonolo Masalesa to play a lot higher up the field and support Gift Motupa. And it worked.
“We really dominated. Created great chances – Rakhale had a great chance again‚ took another touch and their keeper could smother. A ricochet hit their keeper in the face‚ the free-kick from Sifiso Myeni.
“But fantastic performance in the second half – I thought we should have got a bit more from it.”
The coach said that conceding Ammar Jemal’s late goal in the first leg at Orlando Stadium gave Etoile the freedom to play with less pressure at home. Tinkler was impressed with how the Tunisian club utilised that advantage to muscle to a lead in the first half here.
“The first half they showed a lot more aggression. Physically they are stronger than us. And we can’t make it that sort of battle.
“But they’re a good team. No-one can take that away from them. And a team who have shown at home they are formidable.”
Pirates lost their second continental final in three years‚ having been defeated by Egypt’s Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League in 2013. The Buccaneers were seeking their first Confed trophy‚ having won the 1995 Champions Cup and 1996 Super Cup. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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