NB La Masia head coach Daine Klate has detailed the lessons they take away from Mamelodi Sundowns after a 6-1 thrashing in the Nedbank Cup.
La Masia were 3-0 down before the half-hour mark after Gaston Sirino, Matias Esquivel and Terrence Mashego scored for the the Brazilians.
Fuad Johnson gave the Motsepe Foundation Championship side hope after he pulled a goal back from the penalty spot but Klate's charges could not recover, as Sirino added two further goals while the other goal was scored by Lebohang Maboe.
READ | Ruthless Downs hit Klate's La Masia for six
"I think a lot of learning, it doesn't normally unfold in the league we play, with the efficiency and the quality of Sundowns they really showed how devastating they can be in the final third," Klate said on SuperSport TV.
"I thought we were a little bit eager at times, we had good moments of pressing high up the pitch but when you go backwards to your goal we've got to be a little bit calmer, so that's the lessons we're taking away from this.
"I think the closer we get to our box the less eager we need to become, just keep the shape a little bit more, wait for a moment to win the ball back, because we pressed high, a little bit more in the middle third," he said.
"I thought we kept the line too high sometimes, the ball bubbling and goes to Sundowns and we're not dropping five, six yards back, to kill the space in behind but valuable lessons today.
"Fantastic result for Sundowns, congratulations to them, we can only aspire to become like them, so we take it on the chin, we take all the lessons from this one and we move on."
The former Orlando Pirates winger went on and pointed out that it's a work in progress for them, as they are only in their second season in the MFC.
"I think the club is in the second season in the First Division, so a lot of learning to take place and I think the players have not been exposed to this level yet," Klate said.
"And of course you can see the difference in quality for Sundowns, the front three with the moments that they had, with the decision-making in the final third and we can take lessons from that, because that has been our Achilles Heel, the entire season in the First Division, is our decision-making in the final third.
"We build up play well, we press well but when it comes to the final third in hurting teams, we can take lessons away from Sundowns and how efficient they were in the final third," he said.
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