A second-half Surprise Ralani strike proved to be the only goal of the preliminary round qualifier, as City spurned a number of chances to put the contest to bed, with coach McCarthy cutting a frustrated figure on the sidelines.
“I gave them a nice bollocking after the game because when you get an opportunity like this, these are the type of games to show yourself, take your chances and score goals. But it looks like another ‘smash and grab’ game for us, because it’s forever 1-0, 1-0, 1-0,” the City coach said.
“It gets a bit frustrating when you’re standing on the sidelines and I see my team creating numerous chances against every opposition we play, but we still can’t score goals, and I honestly don’t know what to do anymore.”
It has now been 12 games since The Citizens scored more than one goal in a match, with McCarthy suggesting he field himself to help solve his side’s scoring woes.
“I don’t know if I must maybe go for liposuction to get myself to play again, maybe that would do the trick, because maybe some of the players will be a bit embarrassed by a 40-year-old taking their place and doing unbelievably well, because I back myself – I could do better than what a few of them are doing,” he said.
“Not that I’m talking down on my players, but this is just happening far too often – I don’t know what to say or do anymore. In training, every single day, it’s half an hour or the whole session is focused on scoring goals, getting into good areas, cut-backs, strikers in the box … so they can’t complain that they don’t get enough of it, but come game-time … [shakes his head].”
The 2-0 aggregate win sees City advance to the next round of the competition, where they will face the winner of today’s tie between Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy and Mozambique’s Costa do Sol next month.