Steve Barker explains game plan to beat Mamelodi Sundowns twice

A goal from striker Lehlohonolo Mojela proved enough to hand Stellies a 2-0 aggregate win and send them to face Pirates in the final.

Speaking after the game, Barker said although Sundowns were a quality outfit, Stellies had proved once again they were no slouches.

"When people reflect on the game, I'm sure Sundowns and a lot of supporters will say that they were a bit unlucky because they hit the crossbar and they hit the post but I think if you take the first 25, 30 minutes arguably we could have had one or two goals ourselves,” Barker said.

“A little bit unlucky not to have got anything from a really good start. I thought we picked them in their half, we forced in errors, we got in behind them, we created chances, Andre [de Jong] had two chances.

“So, we didn't get enough reward for the first 25, 30 minutes of really really top pressure on Sundowns. I think the next 10 minutes after that it came even out a little bit, second half it came out, also getting the goal. The aim was to also start the second half really well because we knew that if we allow them into the game early then it would really be difficult so as the game went on obviously, they became a bit more desperate."

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Barker said their game plan stifled Sundowns and forced them to only test goalkeeper Sage Stephens from long range. 

"I think a team like Sundowns will always create their chances but even you know the shots that are coming from distance that are hitting the crossbar if we can get our opponents to be shooting from there it's never easy to score. Had we conceded I think it would have been a really tough loss, 5, 6, 7 minutes but fortunately we didn't. I think over the two legs we deserve to be in the final."