Panorama Football Club has grand weekend out at 2023 Engen Knockout

Panorama Football Club maintained their levels of excellence reaching the quarterfinals of the Engen Knockout for the second season in succession.

Drawn in a tricky group, they began their weekend against the University of Pretoria. Plenty of possession but a lack of penetration saw them slip to a 2–1 defeat against Tuks but got things back on track with a 1–0 win against Joburg City to set up a do-or-die fixture against Kaizer Chiefs. The young Glamour Boys were themselves out of sorts as they had not scored in their previous two group games, only managing one point in a goalless draw with Joburg City.

The pace of the decider was electric and Panorama almost saw themselves on the back foot early when their right back was caught in possession. Chiefs hit the post from the break and followed up with another shooting opportunity which struck the defender on the line and the danger passed.

Panorama was not shy in taking the game to Chiefs and after earning good space down the line, the right-back redeemed his earlier mistake by putting in an inch-perfect cross to the centre forward who bundled the ball home to give Panorama the lead.

Chiefs continued to move the ball with confidence but good work in Panorama’s midfield set up a defining counterattack. Strong on his feet and with precision touch, the centre forward created the yard of space he needed. With his third touch, he squeezed the ball through the keeper’s legs and it trickled over the line to send the bench and Panorama’s travelling fans mad.

In shock at how Panorama had scored from their opening two chances, the Chiefs pulled themselves together and sprayed passes from flank to flank. Onlookers would not have known the junior Amakhosi were 2–0 down but while they had most of the ball, Panorama’s two central defenders snuffed out anything that came their way on the edge of the 18-yard area.

Panorama technical director Roman Schroder spoke earlier in the day about how he preferred teams to stick to what earned them their lead instead of adjusting tactics or going into their shell. Panorama kept their structure and defensive solidity and while the pattern of Chiefs playing high-intensity football continued, so did the red wall in front of them. Time slowly ticked away and even the referee’s eight injury-time minutes could not yield a goal for the Chiefs whose players collapsed in a heap at the final whistle.

Eventual winners, Mamelodi Sundowns ended Panorama’s run in the quarterfinals with a 2–0 win before a 1–0 against Orlando Pirates in the semifinal set up the final against TS Galaxy. The teams would be inseparable at the final whistle and the 0–0 draw went to penalties. Sundowns held their nerve, winning 5–4 from the spot.

Proud of his player’s efforts yet rueful of what may have been, Roman commented, “It is positive when you compare it with history but not so positive when you compare it with our expectations and belief in ourselves. The deciding factor was our first game against Tuks. Their route to the semis would have been our route if we could have won that game it would have set us up for a semi-final run.”

Punching well above their weight against professional teams, Roman relishes the challenge but feels more composure is needed.

“I think we played our final in the Chiefs game, that’s when we peaked. We got knocked out by the eventual champions and that is nothing to be upset about. We were outplayed but the highlight was the Chiefs game,” he admitted.

Envisioning greater maturity in coming seasons, he concluded, “We have bred the next bunch that will be ready to compete and hopefully take us into the semis in the coming years. We will set ourselves our goals, we will keep working, and will have faith that we can go further.”