Mamelodi Sundowns are known to be a ball-playing team but in their win over Orlando Pirates, they showed their 'ugly' side of nullifying the Buccaneers from playing their normal game.
The Soweto giants struggled to get out of their own half in the first stanza, with the Brazilians pressing them aggressively.
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Even in moments where Pirates got their rhythm, especially in the second stanza, they were regularly fouled in transition situations, a tactic that was used to disrupt their flow.
Sundowns ended the game with seven players getting yellow cards, compared to the Buccaneers' two, indicating how they integrated tactical fouling in their game.
Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro also pointed out to the huge number of the Brazilians' fouls, 23, compared to four from the Buccaneers, as a reason why they could not get their rhythm in the game.
"I think we finished with one shot on target and I think Sundowns four, counting the penalty but it's the balls the keeper collects quite easily. The game was not playing in the boxes from my perspective, the quality was not there," Riveiro said in a press conference.
"There were a lot of interruptions, I think we finished with six fouls, Sundowns 23, hmmm. But yeah that's a different story," he said.
However, the Spanish coach also admitted that as much as the Brazilians are good on the ball, they are also "exceptional" with their pressing and generally defending.
"What I can tell you is that Sundowns are exceptionally good in the pressing as well, we're used to think about Sundowns like a team that is good on the ball, it's true but they are also good when it's time to defend," he added.
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