The National First Division side fought hard in their Cup clash, taking the Brazilians to extra time before eventually being undone by a brilliant Keagan Dolly strike to suffer a 1-0 defeat.
Freese was however happy with his side’s performance, as well as the partisan Makhulong Stadium crowd, yet felt his side were in it, believing the result could have gone either way.
“I want to thank our boys for a good job … we had a good game,” he told SuperSport after the game. “I’d like to thank the people that came to watch – what a wonderful crowd. I think they kept the game going with their ‘Oohs’ and “Ahhs’.
“I think we could have also won it. In the first half we had two good chances with just the goalkeeper to beat, and well done to their goalkeeper, he was man of the match. But I’d like to say to my boys, ‘Well done’.”
Highlands Park sit third in the NFD standings, four adrift of leaders Baroka FC, and Freese hopes this performance will inspire them in their remaining nine League matches.
“If we can perform like this and take it into our League games, I’ll be very, very happy,” he said. “Let’s take this forward into our League games.”