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Gor Mahia boss Leo Neiva has explained what he learnt about his side following their heavy thrashing at the hands of Al Ahly in the first leg of their CAF Second Preliminary encounter in Nairobi last Sunday.
Gor Mahia head coach Leo Neiva has picked the positives from his side’s heavy 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Egyptian giants Al Ahly in their second preliminary CAF Champions League qualifier at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday.
The match, held at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, saw Percy Tau score twice, while Rami Rabia added a third, putting Gor Mahia’s hopes of advancing to the competition's group stage for the first time in 32 years in serious jeopardy.
Facing one of Africa’s top football clubs, Gor Mahia’s chances of progressing were always slim. However, Neiva emphasised that the experience gained from the match will prove invaluable for the team’s future growth. The Brazilian coach believes the lessons learned, despite the lopsided scoreline, will benefit his players in the long run.
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"We played well and played good football, but then again if we play terribly, they will capitalise on your mistakes. They managed the game very well and have a lot of experience," Neiva said, reflecting on the match.
With Gor Mahia down 2-0, Neiva admitted to making a bold tactical gamble in the second half by switching to an aggressive 3-3-4 formation in hopes of pulling one back.
The change saw him add another forward to the attack, sacrificing a defensive player in the process. Unfortunately, this strategy exposed the team to Al Ahly’s lethal counter-attacks, and the visitors capitalised, scoring their third goal.
"In the second half, they sat back, and we tried our best to score. In the last part of the game, I switched to a 3-3-4 and added a forward in the box to try and score, but we exposed ourselves on the counter-attack, and they are very good in offensive transitions," Neiva explained.
The move was a clear attempt to salvage something from the game, but it also highlighted the significant gap in experience and quality between the two sides.
Despite the daunting task that awaits Gor Mahia in the return leg at Cairo International Stadium, Neiva remains committed to giving it their all. He acknowledged the vast difference in quality between the two teams but stressed that his squad would approach the second leg with a fighting spirit.
“They won 3-0, and they showed there is a large difference between us. But it was good for us to gain experience. Now we have a game away. We know it is not going to be easy, but we are going to try and play football,” Neiva said.
When asked about the critical differences between the two teams, Neiva was candid in his assessment, praising Al Ahly’s organisation and experience. He pointed out that Gor Mahia’s mistakes were ruthlessly punished by their superior opponents.
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"The mistakes that we made, as well as the organisation of this level of opponents... If you are not careful, they kill you. The first goal was a mistake, the second goal, mistake, the third goal, mistake.
"But again, we are satisfied considering we played a superior opponent, and the players tried their best,” Neiva admitted.
While the task of overturning a 3-0 deficit in Cairo is a monumental challenge, Neiva’s focus remains on using this experience to strengthen his team. Regardless of the outcome, the Gor Mahia players will leave this encounter with invaluable lessons as they continue their quest for success on the continental stage.
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12:00 - 16.09.2024
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Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller has stated his satisfaction with the team's performance after a dominant win over Gor Mahia.
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