sportskeeda
Royal AM head coach John Maduka praised his team’s remarkable second-half recovery against Kaizer Chiefs at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Despite Chiefs taking an early lead with two goals in just 13 minutes, scored by Ashley Du Preez and Wandile Duba, Maduka’s team showcased a significant resurgence after the halftime break.
In the 50th minute, Ayabulela Maxwele caught Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen off guard with a long-range strike, as Amakhosi struggled to effectively clear the initial and subsequent balls from their defense.
As the game neared its conclusion, Levy Mashiane intercepted a clearing attempt from Given Msimango and skillfully placed the ball past Petersen to bring the score to level.
Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi criticized his players for demonstrating a lack of professionalism and respect towards their rivals, while Maduka lauded his squad for adhering to the game strategy, confidently asserting that he had foreseen the Chiefs would lose steam after their intense first-half efforts.
“The first thing I told the players was that this match was not overly challenging,” Maduka reflected post-game.
“We complicated things ourselves by not marking as we should. Solid defense is essential for playing football effectively.
“Once we rectified that, and began to advance, I felt we could score one goal, and once we did, more would surely follow. It’s crucial to note that Chiefs exerted a lot of effort in the first half in their attempts to attack us.
“Had we managed the pressure better and not conceded those two early goals, the second half could have unfolded quite differently.
“The players executed the game plan remarkably well, and I am extremely proud of their performance.”
Chiefs were the more dominant side throughout the match, creating multiple chances, including a notable miss from their captain Yusuf Maart, who failed to convert an easy opportunity in the first half.
Duba also missed a one-on-one chance earlier on, while Mdu Shabalala shot wide from within the box, and Du Preez hit the post. In the second half, Pule Mmodi rounded Royal AM goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto but missed the goal, with Maart’s shot being saved easily by Mpoto.
“We could have easily conceded more; we were fortunate to leave without further damage,” admitted Maduka.
“In the first half, our failure to mark accurately allowed them to breach our defense, creating many issues for us. However, when we held possession, we showed good movement, particularly in the first half.”
The draw leaves Royal AM in 10th place on the league table, having earned eight points from nine games.
