Durban - Kaizer Chiefs could not be entirely happy, despite reaching the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, according to head coach Stuart Baxter.
Goals in each half by Sthembiso Ngcobo and Kingston Nkhatha helped Amakhosi book their place in Monday’s last-eight draw with a 2-0 victory over Polokwane City in Durban.
“It was worrying that our players made so many elementary mistakes, not just with the ball but also with our shape and our intentions. We have to improve," Baxter said.
The Premiership leaders were not entirely convincing, spurning some good chances and allowing their National First Division (NFD) opponents plenty of possession on the edge of their box.
Ngcobo eventually sprung the off-side trap to finish from close range, just after the half-hour mark, before substitute Nkhatha added a second with 16 minutes left when he swept home from fellow replacement Bernard Parker.
“If we had more composure, then maybe we would have killed the game off a little earlier, but we didn’t and they kept plugging away,” Baxter said.
“Polokwane did what happens in a cup game, they raised their game and they should be credited for that. They worked very hard.”
Chiefs have not won the 32-team cup competition for seven years and Baxter was relieved to still be in the hunt.
“All in all I’m very pleased to be in the next round. We’re in this competition to win it, as we are for every tournament we enter.
“But compliments to Polokwane and their coach for the hard work they put in.”
Phefadu Ngoako, coach of the Limpopo club, was pleased with their showing, although he admitted that Chiefs’ superior quality was the difference between the sides.
Polokwane's season was disrupted in November when a motor vehicle accident killed four of their players, and Ngoako was satisfied with their performance.
“Unfortunately we lost some of our concentration for that first goal,” he said.
“But we kept our shape, we contained them and played like we planned back home.
“Tactically they were above us and they got the goals that counted.”