Kaizer Chiefs head coach Giovanni Solinas admitted that his team were not brave enough in the first half against SuperSport United in their MTN8 semi-final first leg, writes DEAN WORKMAN.
After taking an early lead through Khama Billiat, Chiefs once again showed their defensive frailties as a Bradley Grobler double saw SuperSport take a deserved 2-1 lead into the break at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium.
READ: Five things learned from Chiefs draw with SSU
The Glamour Boys, however, came out firing in the second half scoring just one minute after the restart through Leonardo Castro.
Chiefs produced some good attacking football throughout the second stanza but failed to find the back of the net as the game ended level at 2-2.
Speaking after the encounter Solinas admitted that SuperSport were better in the first half but believed his side is finally starting to link up and combine in the manner which he envisions.
‘First half SuperSport played much better than us. Second half we played much better than SuperSport.
‘We played very well in the second half. We played our football, attacking football.
ALSO READ: Chiefs, SuperSport draw in MTN8 thriller
‘In the first half the guys were not confident and weren’t brave,’ said the Italian.
Solinas went on to explain how SuperSport exposed the spaces in behind the Chiefs defence, which lead to the poor showing.
‘In the first half, the performance was not good.
‘In the second half we changed the mentality completely, we created chances, we combined well and we scored. I am very happy with the second half.’
Solinas also admitted that his team needs to be switched on from the start.
‘We need to start in the same manner that we played in the second half and we also need to be stronger defensively because in the first half we were too soft,’ concluded the former Free State Stars mentor.
Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
