Royal AM head coach John Maduka explained why Mamelodi Sundowns were able to score five goals against his side on Tuesday night.
Sundowns pulled 20 points clear at the top of the log, with Peter Shalulile netting a brace alongside goals by Cassius Mailula, an own goal by goalkeeper Zakahle Ngcobo and Mothobi Mvala.
Maduka rued their early missed chances and giving the Brazilians spaces and time on the ball.
Read | Rampant Sundowns put five past Royal AM
"We started the game very well and even in those moments if we're clinical enough, I think we would have been 2-0 up," Maduka said on SuperSport TV.
"And after that maybe we thought the game is going to be easy and we started to give them space and time on the ball and we know with the quality that they have, give them time and space, they will hurt you and exactly what happened.
"We conceded a goal that we're not supposed to concede. We have numerical advantage but we allowed them to combine and be able to get that goal, we were slow in defence.
Maduka, who lost his first game since his return at Royal AM, carried on and admitted that they have to take the hard lessons against the champions.
"The second goal again, a back pass, a miscommunication, we conceded. Teams like Sundowns, they wait for you to make mistakes and with the quality that they have, you make a mistake they punish you and exactly that happened.
"We struggled to deal with them especially in midfield and defence and we could not push high and as a result we allowed them to come in our area, that is in our defensive zone.
"And immediately you allow them in the defensive zone, you're allowing them to take shots and because of their intelligence, the players that they have, they can be able to open spaces and create many chances.
"And exactly that happened and that's why we ended up conceding so many goals.
"We cannot be judged on one performance, we're playing against the champions, there are so many things, our players learn so many things, going forward we know where to fix and comes through in the next game," he added.
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