Posted in News, Team News on Aug 13, 2020.
“We did not effectively use the spaces we created,” reflects Ernst Middendorp after his side played to a 1-1 draw against Bidvest Wits on Wednesday night. “Also missing in what we planned was transition play. Overall we were supposed to score a second goal and then manage the game from there on.”
Chiefs scored in the first half through Samir Nurković and conceded at the death after a dominating performance on the night.
“I thought we earned a goal but unfortunately Khama Billiat was ruled offside in the 87th minute,” says Middendorp, “There was another opportunity with the cross bar denying Samir Nurković a second goal.”
This was Chiefs’ first match after the resumption of the league matches, played under the Biologically Safe Environment.
“Obviously you cannot discount that this was our first game after five months,” refers Middendorp. “Cramping was going to be a factor and indeed it influenced our substitutions. Yagan Sasman, Kgotso Moleko and Leornado Castro all suffered from cramps, and we had to make those changes which were not tactically part of our plan.”
With the match close to the referee blowing to end the contest, Wits struck. “Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya was introduced and was immediately caught in a situation that he would normally deal with easily,” he adds. “We also did not track back fast enough to cover on the far post allowing Alexander Cole to score. We should have done better in that situation, but we will work on that going forward.”
Focus now turns to Saturday where Polokwane City is waiting.
“We played in robust match,” says Middendorp, “and the challenges were coming hard and fast from the Wits players. We will have two days to work on some of the issues.
We will check recoveries and resting after the training sessions today and tomorrow.”
Chiefs will on Saturday welcome back Reeve Frosler back from the suspension.
Kick-off on Saturday is 15:30 at Loftus Versfeld.
Chiefs scored in the first half through Samir Nurković and conceded at the death after a dominating performance on the night.
“I thought we earned a goal but unfortunately Khama Billiat was ruled offside in the 87th minute,” says Middendorp, “There was another opportunity with the cross bar denying Samir Nurković a second goal.”
This was Chiefs’ first match after the resumption of the league matches, played under the Biologically Safe Environment.
“Obviously you cannot discount that this was our first game after five months,” refers Middendorp. “Cramping was going to be a factor and indeed it influenced our substitutions. Yagan Sasman, Kgotso Moleko and Leornado Castro all suffered from cramps, and we had to make those changes which were not tactically part of our plan.”
With the match close to the referee blowing to end the contest, Wits struck. “Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya was introduced and was immediately caught in a situation that he would normally deal with easily,” he adds. “We also did not track back fast enough to cover on the far post allowing Alexander Cole to score. We should have done better in that situation, but we will work on that going forward.”
Focus now turns to Saturday where Polokwane City is waiting.
“We played in robust match,” says Middendorp, “and the challenges were coming hard and fast from the Wits players. We will have two days to work on some of the issues.
We will check recoveries and resting after the training sessions today and tomorrow.”
Chiefs will on Saturday welcome back Reeve Frosler back from the suspension.
Kick-off on Saturday is 15:30 at Loftus Versfeld.
