Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker says they may have lost the battle against Orlando Pirates but have not lost the war following their defeat at Athlone Stadium.

Stellies fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Buccaneers in the MTN8 semi-final first leg after Zakhele Lepasa and Deon Hotto cancelled out Olivier Toure’s 51st-minute opener.

The Cape Winelands side will now have to overturn a one-goal deficit when the two sides meet in the return leg at the Orlando Stadium on September 23.

Barker says his side have to now prepare for a challenging task but is ready to face off against the Sea Robbers in the second leg.

“Obviously when you’re playing against a very good side like Pirates and you are a man down, it does make it difficult but I thought we applied ourselves well enough, we got a goal just before the break,” Barker told SuperSport TV after the game.

“So we went into the change room with something to hold onto, I thought up until they scored the goal we were handling the situation very well, commitment, the tactical discipline of the team.

“And although we were deep and we were in our defensive third, they weren’t really creating too many opportunities, so it was unfortunate, a good ball back post, another good goal by Lepasa.

“You know at 1-1 thought it’s not a worse result to end the game considering that we are down to ten men and going to Orlando we would only need to win the game.

“So to concede late, it does make the task tougher but it’s not over. We’ve lost today’s battle but we haven’t lost the war, so we have to go there, be brave and courageous and try to find ways to get something out of that game. Based on this performance, I don’t see any reason why we can’t.”

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