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birds fall

BALL and ALL: Kaizer Chiefs' Thuso Phala tries to dodge a tackle by Moroka Swallows' James Mayinga during their MTN 8 first leg match at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday night. Pic. Veli Nhlapo. 17/08/08. © Sowetan.
BALL and ALL: Kaizer Chiefs' Thuso Phala tries to dodge a tackle by Moroka Swallows' James Mayinga during their MTN 8 first leg match at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday night. Pic. Veli Nhlapo. 17/08/08. © Sowetan.

Linda Moreotsene

Linda Moreotsene

Julio Cesar Leal, Moroka Swallows' coach, will probably not be the last coach this season to admit to Kaizer Chiefs' genius in their use of the counterattack.

When he addressed the media after his charges went down 2-0 to Amakhosi in the first leg of the MTN 8 semifinal, the Brazilian ruefully admitted that things went horribly wrong, and that the players' understanding of his tactical approach will have to undergo a major upgrade before the second leg.

"We expected to have a calm approach, but everything went wrong. The players were probably excited and confident after the last match, but by going forward so much, we gave the opponent the possibility of counterattacking and we were severely punished," Leal said.

"Our style is about crosses and aerial challenges, but we could not put that into practice. A goal would have given us hope for the next match," he said.

Chiefs they just took over from where they left off when they thrashed Santos in the first match of this competition.

With the defence steadfast, Chiefs, who were without midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha, made sure Swallows strikers Sandile Ndlovu and Alton Meiring received no supply from the midfield.

When man of the match Jose Torrealba set up Gert van Schalkwyk for Chiefs' first goal in the ninth minute after a devastating pass from Onismor Bhasera, Swallows had actually been the ones probing. The second goal in the 20th minute from Torrealba took the wind out of the Dube Birds' sails.

Though pretty pleased with his defence, Mokete Tsotetsi was the recipient of Ertugral's wrath at times in the match.

"Because Swallows are extremely dangerous on set- pieces around the penalty area, we had worked continuously on what to do when they do happen, and had decided that he [Tsotetsi] and Jimmy Tau will handle it. Twice he left it for Jonathan [Quartey], and we were nearly punished," Ertugral said afterwards, still seething.

Overall, Ertugral has nothing to complain about. With the second match in Rustenburg on Sunday, the coach will be hoping nothing is seriously wrong with Schalkwyk, who limped off the field late in the match.

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