Daine Klate reflects on Sundowns defeat
La Masia coach Daine Klate has shared the lessons he has learned following his team’s heavy defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns
La Masia coach Daine Klate reflects on the 6-1 drubbing by Mamelodi Sundowns and says he will learn lessons.
Klate says the 6-1 drubbing is not a train smash because Sundowns were favourites to win the Nedbank Cup tie.
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Campaigning in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, Klate’s men were handed a master class by Sundowns on Tuesday night.
As he reflects on the drubbing by the DStv Premiership champions, Klate laments their decision-making against Sundowns.
However, Klate reveals that his defenders were outsmarted by Rulani Mokwena’s Sundowns as Gaston Sirino netted a hat trick.
LA MASIA COACH DAINE KLATE REFLECTS ON HEAVY DEFEAT VS. SUNDOWNS
As they turn their focus to the NFD campaign, Klate says his men fought and he cannot blame them for the drubbing by Sundowns.
Besides Sirino’s goals, Sundowns netted through Terrence Mashego, Lebohang Maboe, and Matías Esquivel.
Meanwhile, Klate’s troops scored courtesy of Fuad Johnson’s penalty to hand Masia a consolation goal in Soweto.
“I don’t know how many times they [Sundowns] broke through and scored a goal,” says Klate after the drubbing by Sundowns.
“We broke through a hell of a lot of times and we didn’t finish off those chances.
“Our decision-making in the final third was not the best against Sundowns.
But I think there’s a benchmark in this Sundowns team.
“We can take the lessons away and see how they exposed us but if we can play with this energy and this intensity.
“I think we can cause a lot of damage in our league.”
KLATE ON HOW THEY LOST TO SUNDOWNS
The retired Orlando Pirates winger, Klate adds that his defenders were too slow to react to Sundowns’ moves.
“When I spoke to my defenders now they said Sundowns players are so clever,” adds Klate about Sundowns’ drubbing.
“So, we are going to go back and we can study them a little bit and learn from them.
“The efficiency in the final third that they have is amazing.
“The scoreline isn’t very flattering for us but I think for a team like Sundowns it’s probably their level.
“And it’s what they expected out of this game.
“Effort levels, I can’t fault the boys and I am proud of them.”