While Crystal Palace is still basking in glory – and rightfully so, Vasco da Gama will exercise some caution and be very wary of a backlash in the Hollywoodbets Third Division campaign.
This follows after Palace, coached by Bradley August and Goodwin Lewis, managed what none of their 17 rivals in the Third Division could muster since November last year – a victory over the log leaders Vasco da Gama.
Palace humbled the favourites by 1-0 at Parow Park on Tuesday evening thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Mhambi Sanele – sending out a message that should have been well received by their rivals in this cut-throat league.
Vasco’s head coach Andrew Pequeno conceded that he was fully aware a first defeat was inevitable due to the unpredictability of this gruelling competition.
“Rather now as the players could have become disillusioned thinking they’re unbeatable,” Pequeno pointed out. “We got punished for not taking our chances and switching off at the end, conceding in the 92nd minute which was criminal.”
Up next for Vasco is a way trip to struggling Woodlands United who have shown that despite their ominous 16th position on the log, they are not to be underestimated following their 2-0 shock victory over another favourite in Cape Town City FC before the Festive break.
Pequeno will draw comfort from the fact that the Fish & Chips Boys (37 points) still remain at the summit of the table with a slender one-point lead over coach Byron Cottle’s City (36) outfit after the first hiccup.
Pequeno emphasized that there is no time to dwell on the past as the games come thick and fast with the halfway stage reached.
“Now we will see our character and how we react as a squad to the loss,” the Vasco boss further stated. “There’s no time to dwell on the result as we are playing Woodlands on Saturday. We need to dust off and wipe out the misery with three points against Woodie Boys,” Pequeno concluded.
