Mosimane warns Zesco against parking the bus in second leg CAF semifinal

22 September 2016 - 19:16 By Tiisetso Malepa

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane‚ in typically self-confident mood‚ threw a grenade into the Zesco United camp when he warned the Zambians would be punished if they tried to park the bus or open up against them.Sundowns and Zesco will face off in the second leg semifinal of the CAF Champions League on Saturday night at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.The Zambians won 2-1 in the first leg in Ndola a week ago courtesy of a brace from Jackson Mwanza‚ with Khama Billiat netting the all-important away goal late in the match in only the second Champions League semi-final between southern Africa clubs.Zesco‚ who boast one of the deadliest attacks in the Champions League this season‚ are expected to adopt a cautious approach and wait for opportunities to hit Sundowns on the counter attack. Mosimane warned that any team that tries to 'park the bus' at their slaughter house in Atteridgeville is digging its own grave.“If you sit back against Sundowns in Pretoria you are making a big problem (for yourself). How many teams have come here (Pretoria) and put five players at the back? You know what’s going to happen to you‚ the goal is coming‚” said Mosimane.“And after the goal‚ what are you going to do now? You’re going to open? You see now‚ you have to change your tactics and you can receive a second goal.” Zesco will have to score in Tshwane to stand any chance of advancing to their first ever CAF Champions League final while also having to tighten up at the back.“We’re very quick on the break also. So we have enough to dismantle a parked bus‚ and we have enough also to play out.”The Brazilians warmed up for the second leg with a hard fought 1-0 aggregate win over Chippa United to advance to the final of the MTN8 Cup while the Zambians will have had seven full days after their last match – the 2-1 win at the Lewy Mnawawasa Stadium. Sundowns are seeking a second final appearance after finishing runners-up to Al Ahly of Egypt in 2001 while ZESCO are playing in the semi-finals for the first time.“We have to go there with a winning mentally and we are going there for a win‚” Zesco midfielder Kondwani Mtonga told Lusaka Times prior to their departure in Ndola on Wednesday.Sundowns have scored a staggering seven goals in their five group matches in the group stages‚ conceding just three goals in the process.Mosimane’s charges will also be buoyed by the fact that they have scored in each of their home games in the group stages.It would have been nine goals had it not been for the disqualification of Setif‚ who Sundowns beat 2-0 in Algeria before they were disqualified. - TMG Digital..

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