Stellenbosch came to Cairo with more bravery, says delighted Barker

STELLENBOSCH FC coach Steve Barker has hailed goalkeeper Sage Stephens' brilliant save in the first leg as "the turning point" that led to his team achieving a historic first-ever berth in the CAF Confederations Cup semi-finals.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Stephens kept clean sheets both home and away against Egyptian giants Zamalek, with Sihle Nduli's 79th-minute winner in Cairo on Wednesday night separating the two sides in a 1-0 aggregate triumph in the quarter-finals.

But Barker believes Stephens' point-blank save in the dying stages in Cape Town last week allowed Stellenbosch to approach the second leg with confidence.

"I think it was very important for us not to concede an away goal. I think you all know, in our home game, Zamalek had a really big chance in the 86th minute," Barker said after the 1-0 victory.

"We made a really big save, and I think that was a turning point. Had they scored there, and it would have made our trip coming here very difficult.

"So, knowing that we hadn't conceded an away goal, it was just a message to the players that we have to show hunger, we have to show desire, we have to work hard.

"And you don't come to a place like this stadium, against a team like this, who are defending champions, and win without effort.