Komphela not stressing over goal difference
ARMED with the best defensive record in the PSL and a youngster who can’t stop scoring in Ryan Moon, Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela suggested he wasn’t losing sleep over goal difference just yet.
It’s an important aspect of a championship race, but one that’s only highlighted when necessary to decide who takes the trophy home if the teams at the top are tied on points.
Amakhosi pipped Cape Town City 1-0, striker Moon getting on the end of a defensive blunder to grab his fifth goal in six matches, at FNB Stadium on Saturday night to leapfrog to second place on the league standings behind Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a four-point lead, as well as game in hand.
“Listen, championships are based on goal difference,” said Komphela, whose side has scored 19 times (compared to Sundowns’ 32 goals) and have only conceded on 12 occasions from 21 matches.
“If you go to Spain they use head-tohead, but the format of the championship is such that it is points and then goal difference is one of the factors. When you count that then you regret the chances that you missed.
“With respect to Cape Town City, if (Siphelele) Ntshangase had taken that chance, if Moon, (Wiseman) Meyiwa, Pule (Ekstein) and (Joseph) Molangoane – it was the same last week when we played Golden Arrows in that there were two clear cut chances that we should have taken and could have won 5-0 instead of three.”
A narrow scoreline like 1-0 flattered visitors City according to their coach Benni McCarthy, who criticised some of his players for not following instructions.
“On reflection of the chances and the opportunities created, maybe we could have won 2-0 or 3-0,” said Komphela.
With nine more rounds of the league to go this season, Chiefs, and their coach in particular, are desperate to finally end a trophy drought that is heading into a third consecutive campaign.
“Yes it counts,” Komphela said again of the goal difference. “But you can’t stress over it. The priority is points. You have bagged them, they are in, can you then go for goals? We try, but sometimes you cannot want to go for goals and drop points.”