For Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane it was all about advancing to the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup and not much about fancy or silky football.
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And Chiefs managed to knock Royal AM out, beating them 2-1 in extra time of their Nedbank Cup tie at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Sunday night.
Zwane says his aim was for Chiefs to frustrate Royal AM and ensure they don’t enjoy as much possession as they normally do because that makes them dangerous.
“We started brightly and controlled the space. Mangethe (Samkelo Zwane) gave us that edge in terms of dictating terms in the middle,” said Zwane.
“They are a ball playing team and once you give them space they can hurt you at any given time.
“So, we had to first control and also utilise the space that is created when their fullbacks go forward.
“For the better part of the game we managed to do that. We controlled them but obvious lapses in concentration in dead ball situations made us give them hope.
“But that was a wake up call and we looked like we could get a goal at any given time,” added Zwane.
Chiefs conceded first when Samuel Manganyi was unmarked from a corner kick and turned the ball in to put Royal AM ahead.
Zwane’s plan worked like a charm
But an own goal by Thabo Matlaba brought Chiefs back into a game where the chances were few and far between as both sides struggled to play properly.
But Zwane was not worried about how they played, more about putting the opponent under pressure at all times.
“And as I said, if you put them under pressure, it doesn’t matter how you score the goals…
“As long as you put the opposition defenders under pressure, they are bound to make mistakes.
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“If you play the diagonal balls, force them to defend facing their own goal and you are likely, at any given time, to get a goal.
“It worked for us and we managed to put them on the back foot,” explained Zwane.
Yusuf Maart finally got the winner for Chiefs in extra time, setting up a Soweto derby semifinal against Orlando Pirates.
