Pitso red-cards beastly pitch for tie
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has said that the poor surface of the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny is counterproductive even for home team Asec Abidjan.
Sundowns gritted out a tough 0-0 draw against Asec in 31°C heat in Abidjan on Tuesday‚ but held on to the lead of Group A on seven points from four games.
In fact‚ Downs‚ who have games at home against lastplaced Lobi Stars (joint on four points with Asec) and away against Wydad Casablanca left to play‚ would consider themselves favourites to top the group after Wydad (also seven points) were held to a home 0-0 draw in Morocco by Nigerian club Lobi.
Mosimane was asked after the draw against Asec in Ivory Coast, when he still would not have known the Wydad-Lobi result‚ if he was pleased with the outcome of his team’s match.
“Yes and no‚” said Mosimane.
“Yes, because we got to seven points‚ and we got a point away from home.
“No, because we had opportunities to score.
“As the [Asec] coach [Amani Yao Cesar] said‚ we also suffered from poor finishing. We got two chances on the counter-attack‚ but we made the wrong decision to pass.
“I asked the players why we could not properly make use of the opportunities on the counter-attack, because Asec were desperate.
“My players complained about the surface of the pitch, because when you are running at high speed the ball bounces.
“I think the pitch does not help Asec. Because Asec are technical‚ they pass very well.
“With the sun and the heat too‚ the conditions are difficult for anyone to come here. I don’t think Wydad will survive here.
“They also are technical. They will struggle with the ball on this field.”
The Brazilians had mixed fortunes losing their first game 2-1 away against Lobi‚ then beating Wydad 2-1 and Asec 3-1‚ both at home. —