Tinkler frustrated by Sekhukhune’s defensive lapses in MTN8 win

Sekhukhune United head coach Eric Tinkler didn’t mince words after his side’s dramatic 3-2 MTN8 quarter-final victory over TS Galaxy, lamenting his team’s defensive frailties despite booking a semi-final spot.

The match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday evening saw TS Galaxy burst out of the blocks, with Mpho Mvelase finding the net in the 14th minute and Victor Letsoalo adding a second in the 41st. This put Sekhukhune in a precarious 2-0 hole.

However, a late first-half strike from new arrival Bradley Grobler in the 43rd minute offered a glimmer of hope. Sekhukhune emerged with renewed vigour after the break, with Grobler bagging his second in the 64th minute before Vusumzi Mncube clinched the winner in the 69th, completing an impressive turnaround.

Despite the comeback, Tinkler was candid about his displeasure with the first-half display. “I don’t think we played really well in the first-half. I’m very disappointed with how we conceded the goals, one from a set piece and the other from open play,” Tinkler told SuperSport TV. He highlighted the team’s pre-season emphasis on maintaining clean sheets, making the early goals conceded a particular concern.

“We found ourselves two-nil down. It wasn’t a great first-half performance,” he added, though he praised the second-half resurgence. “Our performance in the second-half was a lot better. I thought we were by far the better team in the second-half, we deserve to get the two goals we got.”

Sekhukhune now advance to the MTN8 semi-finals alongside Orlando Pirates, who also secured their progression on Saturday.