Al Ahli coach Marino Pusic says missed chances cost them against Mamelodi Sundowns

Al Ahli Saudi FC coach Marino Pusic believes his team should have been two or three goals ahead at half-time before losing 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup.

The Saudi Arabian side created a series of chances in the opening period but were unable to convert them. Mamelodi Sundowns eventually secured victory in the Intercontinental Cup on Saturday through two goals from Portuguese forward Nuno Santos.

The result ended Al Ahli’s involvement in the competition, while Mamelodi Sundowns progressed to a later meeting with either Toluca of Mexico or the Copa Libertadores winners.

Pusic said the match had been decided by his side’s failure to take control of the game when they were dominant.

“I think, in general, there was one team who should lead in the first half by two or three goals difference. It was us,” Pusic told the media.

“I think we played today a very good game until 20 minutes in the second half.”

The Al Ahli coach described the contest as one in which opportunities had been missed at crucial moments. He felt his team lost momentum after the opening 20 minutes of the second half, allowing Mamelodi Sundowns to impose themselves.

“And I think this game was actually the game of missed chances in the big final. Unfortunately, I think we gave them the momentum in the second half after 20, 22 minutes,” he said.

“They created something out of this free-kick and after that, we suffered a little bit.”

Pusic rejects criticism of changes

Pusic also rejected a suggestion that his tactical decisions or substitutions had played a part in the defeat.

He said the changes did not explain the outcome and argued that Al Ahli had performed well until the point when they lost control in midfield and conceded.

“But I heard that you are a fan of one of the players, that’s right. But I think we’ve been very good in the game until that moment,” he added.

“Nothing special happened. We lost some initiative and, at the end, we conceded this goal. It has nothing to do with the changes.”

According to Pusic, the decisive issue was the speed with which his team reacted to the danger in the centre of the pitch.

“It has to do only with the moment that we need to close the middle in that moment very fast,” he said.

The coach criticised the question as unfair in the context of a defeat.

“You can put all these questions when one team is losing. I think it’s not a correct question. It’s not a correct one,” he added.

“When this team is doing what we did tonight and how we played tonight and how we actually represented ourselves, you shouldn’t put that question.”

Pusic maintained that Al Ahli had been the stronger team before half-time, despite their eventual exit.

“There was one team who should make a big difference in the first half, and it was us.”