Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says he knew one goal would settle the game, coming up against a side of Bloemfontein Celtic’s quality.

The former Bafana Bafana mentor insisted that they had to absorb the pressure and play on the break because that was the only way they could find Celtic vulnerable.

A goal from Gaston Sirino proved to be the difference as the Brazilians advanced to the quarter-final after claiming a 1-0 victory over Celtic at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

The former Bafana Bafana mentor admits his side were forced to attack Steve Komphela’s men on the break with Celtic constantly pressuring Sundowns throughout the game.

Mosimane went on to say that he opted to play Toni Silva and Sirino to try catch Celtic out on the counter.

‘We had to play on a break because of the pressure. They pushed us. They pushed us in front of our box. So the only I could do it was to play on a break and put [Toni] Silva or Gaston [Sirino] up and let [Hlompho] Kekana play the ball over the line. That’s the only way they’ll be vulnerable because they are playing on a half-way line,’ Mosimane told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘So we had to do that and use speed. So Gaston missed the first one and he corrected it with the second one to be honest.

‘It was going to be decided by one goal because of the quality to be honest,’ he concluded.