26 Aug 2019

Jwaneng Galaxy coach, Miguel Da Costa says his team ‘tried everything’ in their failed attempt to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit against Bolton City Youth Club in the CAF Confederations Cup.

Although Galaxy won the preliminary round second leg encounter 1-0 through a superb 65^th minute goal from substitute Gift Moyo at Lobatse Sports Complex on Sunday, they were booted out through a 3-2 aggregate despite dominating the match.

Bolton put a blanket defence in front of goalkeeper, James Caserne’s goalposts to frustrate their opponents and protect their two goal aggregate lead. 

Galaxy goalkeeper, Anthony Gouws did not make a single save as the Mauritian team did not bother to threaten his goalposts.

Galaxy midfielders, Gilbert Baruti, Olebogeng Malebye, Lebogang Ditsele, Karabo Phiri and Atisang Batsi dictated terms in the first half but failed to make their superior ball possession count.

They only came close to scoring when Ditsele crashed a header against the bar in the 16^th minute, and when the lanky midfielder connected a corner kick from Phiri, but saw his effort hacked off the goal line in the 31^st minute.

With striker Tebogo Sembowa having replaced defender Moagi Sechele and attacking midfielder Moyo taking the place of defender Isaac Paeye, Galaxy went on an all-out assault in the second half. 

The former Orapa United player opened the scoring midway through the second half after latching on a loose ball inside the penalty area and finding the bottom corner after a cross from Phiri was not cleared.

The Jwaneng side had more opportunities to score the second goal, which would have taken them through, but Sembowa, Ditsele and Baruti directed their efforts straight at the goalkeeper.

“It’s not easy to speak about what happened in the match when you had too many opportunities and were not scoring. We had three balls off the line of the goals and one ball off the post. 

The goal in my opinion was too late,” Da Costa said in a post-match interview.

“It is tough to explain a game like this. Full possession, full control of the match. 

First half we took a defender and put attacker, second half we took another defender and put a midfielder. 

We created on the wings, we created with midfielders picking spaces as we worked the strikers with the second man appearing for the shot. 

Everything that we planned we put here on the pitch, the only thing was the scoring. 

But I am happy with the team. 

If we continue like this we are building a very good team,” added the Portuguese coach.

He slammed the Bolton approach to the game saying it was street football. “You put five men at the back and five in midfield and just pump balls upfront. 

It is street football,” he said.

Bolton coach Jerome Thomas said they came to defend their two goal advantage because they knew that playing away was going to be difficult.

“We had no choice but to defend. Defend and we are through,” he said.

Bolton will meet Zanaco of Zambia next month in the first round stage. 

Galaxy were knocked out of the Confederations Cup at the first hurdle for the second time. 

They were beaten 2-0 on aggregate by Costa Do Sol of Mozambique last year. ENDS