by Ndoli Mapfumo
Maritzburg United coach Ernst Middendorp is finding it difficult to process their 2-1 loss to SuperSport United his side suffered in a DStv Premiership encounter played on Saturday evening at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
SuperSport United’s goals came through Thamsanqa Gabuza and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, while Maritzburg United sole goal came from Lifa Hlongwane. The German mentor also highlighted the lack of resting days his side had while their counterparts had extra “cool-off” time.
Speaking after the loss, Middendorp said, ” It is difficult for us to play two games in three days while our opponents had more days to rest. We don’t have a big squad where we can change six players but we started playing well and combining after 20 minutes of the first half though it was expected that we could go 1-0 down.
“We fought back and anything could have happened but then we conceded from a set piece in the dying minutes of the game. That’s very hard to process if you lose like that, ” he said.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach said in the second half they had a better game though it was painful to concede in the last minute to lose the game.
” It’s always painful when you change the game and start playing very well but lose in the last minute. We did our best it wasn’t just our day,” he concluded.