Mighty Heroes overturn 0–3 deficit to beat Blue Aces
A first-half collapse nearly cost Mighty Heroes the match, but a half-time reshuffle and a substitute's hat-trick sealed their 4–3 win over Blue Aces.
Mighty Heroes FC coach Kgomotso Shago Rampye says his side’s game plan was sound heading into their Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association U15 fixture against Blue Aces FC.
Although Mighty Heroes found themselves 0–3 down at half-time, before recovering to win 4–3 at the Altrec Sports Complex on August 16, he said most things went according to the plan. “Our game plan was good. We were good with pressing and we had speed at the front. When we won the ball we were just supposed to break them, in order to score.”
Read more: A mean Mighty Heroes means business
Rampye said that, from the onset, the run of play had favoured his team, even though Blue Aces held onto possession for long periods. On the matter of goal difference, which he acknowledged carries more weight as the league nears its conclusion, Rampye said his focus remains on results rather than margins.
Despite that outlook heading into the game, the first half did not go to plan. Mighty Heroes conceded three goals to Blue Aces, with Rampye attributing the deficit to his defence’s lack of consistency and poor communication. At half-time, he addressed those issues directly with his players. “I was playing 4-3-3, but I had two defensive midfielders. I told those two midfielders that when the opponent is coming at us, we must clear the ball, so that we can get our strikers to score for us.”
Also read: Development on display as Mighty Heroes beats LRC
Rampye also introduced substitute Phephile Khumalo at half-time, instructing him to look for weaknesses to exploit. “I said he should take the ball and press forward.”
Khumalo scored a hat-trick, and Njabulo Mbokazi added a penalty, completing the 4–3 win. “He listened to me, did what I asked and scored three goals.”
Blue Aces chairperson Mzeke Mafa said his side lost their focus after a change to their backline disrupted their shape. “The boys did not focus and we also got killed by the replacement of the backline.”
Mafa said he would focus on his defenders’ and midfielders’ positioning in training this week.
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