Smash-and-grab win for Dikwena

PLATINUM Stars did their homework and got the "smash-and-grab" victory they had been seeking at Mamelodi Sundowns with a little pre-planning, coach Cavin Johnson revealed after Saturday's 1-0 win in Atteridgeville.

Their intention was always to try and get the ball over the top of the Sundowns centre defensive pairing, which they had decided were ponderous and too often spread too far apart, allowing for a chance to play a quick ball through the middle.

The trick worked almost immediately after kick-off with Henrico Botes clear of Clayton Daniels and Arje Schut and with a chance to net one of the quickest goals ever, inside the first 15 seconds, but a poor first touch saw him squander a good opportunity.

But the Namibian made amends after 14 minutes to give Stars a 1-0 victory and their first away triumph of the season.

"For Sundowns, we prepared very well because they are a very good team. We planned to get behind their centre backs because what we noticed before, and what we saw again in the game, was that they were vulnerable," said a visibly pleased Johnson on his return to the cub where he served previously as an assistant coach and head of youth development.

"In the first 20 minutes of the first half, we were able to get three or four chances and we scored our goal. After that they came at us, like they always do, and we had to defend.

"After 25 minutes we changed our game plan. We said 'guys, we have the three points in our pocket, they need to take it out', so we defended and I have to give my boys credit."

Johnson said it was not always possible to plan as effectively against an opponent because other teams "are not like Sundowns because they don't play with structure".