Golden Arrows coach Pitso Dladla has admitted his side had to withstand some nervy moments against Mamelodi Sundowns, despite securing a crucial 1-0 victory in the MTN8 semi-final first leg on Sunday.
Junior Dion's strike proved enough to give Abafana Be'Sthende a narrow advantage heading into next weekend's return leg, but Dladla acknowledged that his team were forced to dig deep defensively as Sundowns pushed for an equaliser.
The Arrows coach was pleased with the commitment shown by his players, particularly when the pressure intensified, but conceded that they spent too much time defending deep.
"There were times it looked scary, but we survived," Dladla told SuperSport TV.
The result also maintained Arrows' remarkable defensive record, with the Durban outfit yet to concede a goal in all competitions this season.
Dladla believes that record is partly down to the work done on the training ground, where his players regularly face situations designed to test their concentration and defensive organisation.
"Yes, the concentration is high from our players. We simulate situations that put our defence under pressure so that when we get to the game it's not something new," he said.
However, the coach was not entirely satisfied with the way his team handled Sundowns' pressure.
"We should also be honest that we defended too deep. We did not like that," he admitted.
While Arrows were forced to spend long periods without the ball, their ability to threaten Sundowns on the counter provided another positive for Dladla.
The coach revealed that transitions were an important part of their tactical plan, although he believes his players could have been more clinical and potentially put the tie beyond Sundowns' reach.
"We planned for those transitions, but I believe we could've done better. We are still going to work on them," Dladla explained.
"I believe we could've gotten another goal or two from those transitions, but we will work on them properly."
Dion's goal ultimately proved decisive, giving Arrows something valuable to take into the second leg. With Sundowns now needing to overturn the deficit, Dladla knows his side will have to show the same level of unity and resilience if they are to complete the job and reach the MTN8 final.
