Pitso Dladla reacts to MTN8 exit, addresses away goal confusion

30.08.26 FT MTN 8 Cup South Africa

Lamontville Golden Arrows

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Mamelodi Sundowns FC

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Golden Arrows head coach Pitso Dladla has reacted to his team's elimination in the MTN8 semi-final at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Abafana Bes'thende exited the competition by virtue of the away goal rule after suffering a 3-2 defeat to the Brazilians on home soil, having scored the solitary goal in atteridgeville in the first leg.

Dladla admits the manner in which his troops were sent packing in the tournament is a hard pill to swallow, especially after giving the reigning CAF Champions League winners a run for their money in the two-legged tie.

“It feels bad but what can we do, it's one of the rules of the tournament. The aggregate score is three-all but an away goal rule is the difference. They scored three [away goals], we scored one,” said the Arrows boss.

"It's something that you can't do [anything about], that's why one feels sorry for the players, not just putting such a performance against any other team but against the African champions. We can only learn and grow from this performance.

Notably, the Arrows players appeared to be unaware of how the away goal rule works as they celebrated the stoppage time goal from Philani Khumalo, who leveled matters on the aggregate score.

Furthermore, goal poacher Sede Dion was visibly confused at full-time when the technical team explained the KwaZulu-Natal outfit had been knocked out of the competition via away goal rules.

The former Durban City mentor, however, says his charges were fully aware of the permutations, with the exception of one player who didn't fully grasp the concept of the away goal rule.

“No, they knew the rules. The only confusion with one of the players was the actual scoreline, that was the only confusion where he thought it was two-all,” added Dladla when quizzed about his players' confusion.

"And then two-all also today meaning that with the goal that we scored away we were in front 3-2, but we said, no, the actual scoreline is 3-2, and then again if you saw that's when we kept scoring.

Arrows will now switch focus to the Betway Premiership where they are set to host Sundowns at the same venue on Sunday, in what will be the third meeting with Miguel Cardoso's men in a space of three weeks.

Hlayisani Magoro

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Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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