Royal AM co-coach Khabo Zondo says they were made to pay for their mistakes against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday evening.
The KwaZulu-Natal side suffered a 3-0 defeat to the reigning champions at Chatsworth Stadium, although the final two goals came in the last 10 of the second half.
Read: Sundowns Thrash Royal AM To Open Six-Point Lead
Zondo felt the team did well to compete against a side of Sundowns' calibre, although he acknowledged his side's struggles in the final third.
"Look, I think we competed very well for almost 30 percent of the game. Knowing Sundowns strengths in terms of speed and ball rotation and we had to keep it compact in the middle," Zondo told SuperSport TV.
"I think they scored from our own mistakes, you know especially the two goals that made it 3-0. But I thought my boys fought well we didn't create anything; truth must be told.
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"We didn't create anything in the second half except the one cross that Thikazi took towards Ruzaigh but at the end of the day we were playing a good side. Well organised, they showed why they score so many goals.
"You make a mistake they punish you. We should've taken our chances in the first half and we didn't that alone made it difficult for us."
Another tough assignment now awaits Thwihli Thwahla in the form of TP Mazembe in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage play-offs.
"You know, there you make a mistake like this you going to be punished dearly. But I hope we are learning from them and we have to regroup and comeback," he added.
"I mean, going to Africa is not going to be easy. Playing against TP Mazembe is not going to be easy but we are ready."
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