Cape Town - Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew admits the technical and tactical aspect of the game is what South African teams need to improve on.
SuperSport United found themselves 4-0 down at half-time after Mile Jedinak, Chung-yong Lee, Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell all got on the score sheet for the Eagles in the Cape Town Cup.
However, the PSL outfit managed to steady the ship after the break and plugged the holes, with the second period proving goalless, and Pardew feels his counterpart, Gordon Igesund, could take plenty of positives away from the tie.
"The standard of the opposition was probably below where they wanted to be in the first half, but in the second they did well and should have scored at least one goal," he said.
"They were the better side in the second half and they can take some confidence from that. They made it much more difficult for us and it became a much more even affair.
"I think the athleticism of South African players is there, as well as the physical side of the game, but the technical and tactical areas are what they need to improve on.
"In the second half I felt the coach did a good job because 4-0 down at half-time is tough going, but he got his team in a good place so he needs a pat on the back for what they did against a Premier League team.
"We have players with experience of different levels and that's going to show. When you're in big games you know how to cope with the opposition and that's where the step for SuperSport is next."