Cambridge FC faced the Juventus team in Rieger Park in Boksburg on November 13 as part of the SAB League.
The fixture was seen as an honour despite the heat both teams faced on the day.
“Facing the Juventus team, we started very slow,” said Cambridge coach Ignatius Maphike.
“The team struggled to get their normal free flow, passing combinations and ball possessions together.”
The Cambridge team approached the game with a mixture of defence and attacking plays as a result of the slow start.
The Juventus team made their mark early in the game and with Cambridge struggling to use their scoring opportunities, the first half ended 1-0.
“The second half of the match was much better for our team,” said Maphike.
“We started to gain momentum, but with some poor decisions from the referee and his assistants, the team’s progress was derailed.
“This luckily didn’t discourage the boys, and we kept pushing.”
Cambridge wing Sechaba Masangane was fouled near the 18-yard box, which resulted in a free kick for the Nigel team.
“Masangane took the free kick,” Maphike explained.
“It was struck beautifully and was converted into a goal, bringing the score to an even 1-1.”
Encouraged by their mark on the scoreboard, the Cambridge team began to gain momentum in the match.
“The poor officiating by the match officials made it difficult for us to walk away with all three points,” Maphike explained.
“In the last stanza of the match, one of our defenders was fouled by a Juventus player, and the referee waved it away, allowing the opposing team to score again.”
The Cambridge team lost the match 2-1.
“It’s very sad to experience such officiating,” said an emotional Maphike after the match.
“We acknowledge that the referee’s decisions are final, but it’s the second week in a row this has happened and it makes it difficult for us to get a good match away from home.”
Head coach Godfrey Hermanus indicated that the team will be heading back to the drawing board and hopes that the team would only come back stronger, given the emotional toll the loss could have on the players.
“We have to prepare for our next home game,” Hermanus said.
“We hope for a better result.
“We would also like to thank our loyal supporters who travelled with us, but sadly weren’t allowed into the stadium.”
