Are there any good defenders around?

THEY say defending is an art and SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo – as well as his Kaizer Chiefs counterpart Giovanni Solinas – can vouch for this.

Both sides will have to work on their rearguard ahead of the MTN8 semifinal second leg at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

What was on display here were schoolboy errors, low grade defending and could have convinced both Tembo and Solinas that a defender or two is needed before the transfer window closes on Friday.

From a neutral point of view, this was what a Sunday afternoon premium fixture in the top-flight should be: a four-goal thriller.

But the coaches will be worried about having to address the frailties and will want to act quickly given there’s still nine months of football to be played.

Chiefs got off to an ideal start with Khama Billiat breaking the deadlock, finishing off a move started by fellow striker Dumisani Zuma.

Amakhosi only enjoyed their lead for all of five minutes before Bradley Grobler equalised and then later put SuperSport ahead on the stroke of halftime.

This is where Solinas watched in disbelief as his team’s defensive flaws were on full display as SuperSport asked questions.

Grobler controlled the ball brilliantly in the opposition half, pulling away from Daniel Cardoso to beat goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune for the first of his two goals. Cardoso really should have been a little tighter in his man-marking of the SuperSport striker.

Then, in almost a copy of that equaliser, Grobler was at the receiving end of a long throw from Phumlani Ntshangase. Cardoso was again ball watching, but this time he was joined in the gazing by Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Siyabonga Ngezana – Grobler being given plenty of space to aim and shoot for SuperSport to take the lead.

Billiat turned provider for Castro to make sure they took with them two away goals for the second leg next weekend.