Maritzburg United coach Ernst Middendorp reveals they were a man down when they conceded two goals in a space of a minute against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup on Saturday evening.
Thabiso Kutumela gave United a perfect start with an early opener but the Soweto giants hit back with Kabelo Dlamini and Deon Hotto after the break, before Vincent Pule sealed the win late on.
The German tactician revealed they were a man light when the Buccaneers turned the game on its head after Lungelo Bhengu cramped up, but was he pleased with the overall showing by his charges.
"As long as we were capable to keep the structure, to do right what was planned, I think we were good in the game, one or two moments in the first-half we could have taken the second goal," Middendorp said on SuperSport TV after the match.
"I was not expecting that six or seven minutes in the second-half somebody starts cramping, we spoke at half-time, "Be responsible, if something is not right we change now" good.
"But that's probably the right of a young player, that's definitely disappointing because in this one man down period we conceded these two goals, ja it's definitely not the way we wanted, but good we take it.
"As a I said before for us it's very crucial to see the bigger frame in terms of the league going towards the next games, sort it [until] the end of the season, end of May.
"We had a number of players in the PSL in a competition like this, we got an indication that some will work, some will need a little bit more time. A number of players who could be in the starting XI are not in the field today for different reasons. Good, we start working on it, continue, our next game is definitely crucial."
