Transition – opposition half
This phase of play involves winning the ball off the opponent in their own half, often through high pressing, and then quickly playing penetrative passes whilst their shape is compromised.
Goals from transition moments in the opposition half are usually the result of good high pressing and forcing the opponents into mistakes. Early in the campaign, Amakhosi used this to great effect as three of their first five goals this term came from turnovers in the opponents’ half.
In their first home match of the season, a 3-0 victory against Maritzburg United, two goals came in this phase of play in the opening 24 minutes. After four minutes, Matlou did well to close down goalkeeper King Ndlovu and force him to kick it long. Chiefs won it a few metres into the Maritzburg half, Maart found Matlou, his pass for Billiat was diverted into the path of Du Preez and he curled home with his stronger right foot. Then, 24 minutes into the match, Maart aggressively closed down high up, forcing a defender into a blind back pass, which saw Dolly lob home the second goal after it broke to him from a Ndlovu vs Billiat 50-50 duel.
Even with 10 men against Richards Bay FC, the Soweto giants made use of a transition as Zitha Kwinika defended a clearance well, it broke for Dolly to play a pass looking for Sekgota and the winger drew a penalty from a seemingly lost cause as Sibusiso Mthethwa stood on the former Vitoria Setubal winger’s foot. Against Stellies in the MTN8 quarter-final, a short goal kick proved a pressing trigger for Du Preez, who forced an error and slid home against his former club. Another transition goal worth highlighting came against SuperSport. A poor Ricardo Goss kick came to Bimenyimana, who released Du Preez down the right. He crossed low for the onrushing Maart, who got cleaned out for a penalty; finished off by Bimenyimana.
A key man in the pressing is Du Preez. That was highlighted by his aggressive closing down against his former club in the MTN8, forcing Oswin Andries into a loose back pass. If we look at the number of goals from high and mid-block pressing, both from counters and opposition half transitions, it is clear that Chiefs are well-coached in this regard and will only get better with time.