From a neutral perspective the draw between FN Rangers and the Vasco da Gama was probably a fair reflection – not to mention those with divided loyalties wanting to keep the peace, got what they wanted with the spoils shared.
But because Rangers’ coach Arreshaat Daniels and his Vasco counterpart Andrew Pequeno both set the bar extremely high, winning every match has become non-negotiable.
It must be said that the defending champions, Rangers, are just a shadow of themselves this season despite their impeccable home record.
Following Saturday’s draw (1-1) against Vasco at their Royal Road base in Maitland, Rangers need to win almost every game from now on to have any chance of defending their crown as Daniels felt their finishing in front of goal cost them valuable points at home.
“Maybe for the neutral this is a fair reflection, but I think we could have snatched it and should have snatched it,” Daniels told No Bones with Jones after the match. “But ja, what can we do? We take the point and move on,” Daniels added.
Meanwhile, Pequeno believes that they too were good value for money especially in the first half when they controlled matters and opened the scoring via Tristin Van der Lingen to give them a half-time lead of 1-0.
Rangers were more fired up and industrious in the second half and clawed their way back into the match with some strong midfield and wing play which had the visitors pinned in their own half.
The home side was eventually rewarded when Tashreeq Maunel equalised halfway through the second half to set up a tense latter stages but both sides squandered chances late on and had to settle for a point each.
Pequeno explained to No Bones with Jones: “We took control back (in the second half) and had a couple of chances and in the end we should have buried one. But there is a reason why this team is undefeated at home for the last two seasons, they get the result and big ups to them.
“But I know we are a bit disappointed as I thought we did enough to win the game but we got to score, we got to,” Pequeno concluded.
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