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Orlando Pirates coach Leal: Champions League dream is not over yet
21/02/2012 2:50:00 AM
The Brazilian trainer of the Buccaneers is convinced that there is still a chance for the South African club to progress in the elite club competition
Julio Leal insists Orlando Pirates' Caf Champions League dream is not over, despite their first round first leg loss to Recreativo do Libolo.The reigning PSL champions lost 3-1 to the Angolan side on Sunday in Port Elizabeth, and have a mountain to climb in the return leg as they will need to score three goals without conceding if they are to qualify to the second round.
Bucs will travel to Angola on the weekend of March 2-4 and Leal believes his side can score three goals away, despite only scoring one goal on home soil.
"The game is not over, if they scored three goals in our home ground, with our minds in the right frame I think we can get three goals in Angola if the players are confident and are hungry to progress to the next round," Leal said, according to Kickoff.com.
"We played well in the second half and we kept pushing trying to get a goal, but at least we got one goal and I am sure we will do well in Angola in two weeks' time."
Leal blames his defence for the errors that led to two early goals, putting Pirates under pressure.
"We played to our maximum strengths, but we didn't start the game in a positive way, and it was not a good performance at all, as the players made two mistakes and we were punished."
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