Stellenbosch coach Steve Baker is adamant his players will not sit back and defend their slim lead against Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-final to be staged at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
A Fawaaz Basadien penalty handed Stellies a crucial 1-0 win and a massive away goal in the first leg staged at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Despite the massive quality of Masandawana, Barker insists Stellenbosch have to be brave enough and take the game to their visitors.
Stellenbosch will not defend for 90 minutes against Sundowns
“Look, it's a tricky situation for our opponents, they've got to come out and get a result, so hopefully there will be spaces for us to exploit and attack in the second leg,” the tactician said in a pre-match interview.
“It's going to be key for us in the second leg, the chances we hopefully can create and get, we have to take because, if we don't, it's just not going to be possible to defend for 90 minutes.
“So we're going to have to be brave and continue to play, and take the game to them whenever it is possible, but I agree – in one or two situations we should have been a bit more clinical and may have come away with an even bigger league,” Barker continued.
“But I'll take [the solitary goal] and be humble enough to accept an away win [was] a massive result for us, but a lot of work is still to be done.”
Why is Barker worried about new Downs boy Sales?
The Brazilian forward Arthur Sales made his debut for Masandawana in the first leg and caused all sorts of problems.
Baker is anticipating him to start on Sunday, “It's difficult to predict, but I think a player like Sales showed, in the little bit of minutes that he had, how good a player he is,” he admitted.
“Obviously sometimes you blood new players in, especially foreign players who maybe didn't start this evening, but I think now that he had minutes, there's a strong possibility that he starts the game.
“I think Themba [Zwane] has always been their talisman, so it is possible that he also gets a start, but I don't want to think too far ahead.”
Another semi-final is between defending champions Orlando Pirates and Ts Galaxy scheduled for Saturday. The first leg at the DHL Cape Town Stadium ended 1-1.
