Gunners cruise to 3–1 win despite squandering clear chances
Alexandra Gunners walked away with three points and a 3–1 victory, but their coach says the real lesson lies in turning dominance into goals
Alexandra Gunners FC comfortably defeated Roosevelt Young Stars FC 3–1 in their Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association (ANLFA) U15 league fixture on Sunday.
Although Gunners came out guns blazing, and largely controlled game at Altrec Sports Complex, coach Lesiba Ditshego cut a frustrated figure.
He said his side squandered three of four clear-cut chances, preventing what could have been a far more emphatic scoreline. “I should be happy with the score, but how do you become happy when you miss three of four clear-cut chances?”
Read more: Loyo Stars outlast resilient Phuthadichaba in tight U13 battle
He added that the fact that they were not threatened at all means that they should have scored even more.
Their victory was built on a well-organised defensive structure and a disciplined midfield that dictated the flow of the game. Ditshego was full of praise for his backline and central players, who executed the game plan almost perfectly.
“They shape up, they move accordingly. When the ball is on the right, how we move, when it’s on the left, how we move. Our midfielders don’t throw themselves in, they wait for the right moment to press and mark.”
This tactical discipline allowed Gunners to pin Roosevelt Young Stars in their own half for long periods. Even when possession was lost, the team regained the ball quickly and transitioned forward.
Also read: Mhlaba FC remains optimistic even after 2-1 loss to Opopo FC
Ditshego said a key element in their midfield dominance is the demanding training he puts his players through. “If you look at my boys in the middle, when we train, I always make sure it is three versus five.
“There’s only three of them against five. So, they need to learn how to win the ball against numbers and how to share it quickly in tight spaces.”
That competitive edge in training translated onto the pitch, creating numerous scoring opportunities. However, the final piece of the puzzle, clinical finishing, remains a work in progress.
While the strikers showed good decision-making in the final third, too many shots failed to test the goalkeeper.
Ditshego confirmed that sharpening accuracy in front of goal will be a major focus in the coming training sessions.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!
