Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter was almost tongue-tied after Al Ahly trounced Amakhosi 3-0 in the final of the CAF Champions League at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, Morocco, on Saturday evening.
The Egyptians were ruthless in the last 45 minutes as they scored all three goals following a goalless first half.
Still, Baxter believes they could have done better had Happy Mashiane not been sent off towards the end of the first stanza.
Burundian referee Pacifique Ndabihawenimana gave Mashiane his marching orders following a reckless tackle on Al Ahly’s Akram Elhagrasi.
“I thought we started the game quite well. I thought the players approached the game in the correct way. We tried to press a little bit higher,” Baxter said.
“Finals are defined by certain incidents. I think this one was affected massively by the red card. It changed the whole complexion. But I have to say if we would have had another man on the field it would be interesting to see what we could do at half time. We needed to keep the ball longer. We need to go back to the drawing board quickly and take heart in the fact that we’ve done so well in CAF.”
The former Bafana Bafana coach also believes that his younger players got overwhelmed by the occasion.
“The younger players lost a little bit heart. We did a good job of defending our box,” Baxter said.
“The goals we conceded were poor goals. If we defend properly and normally then we can withstand that time when they don’t score and increase the frustration for them.”
