Cape Town City coach Jan Olde Riekerink was proud of the way his charges performed against Orlando Pirates despite playing with 10 men.
Terrence Dzvukamanja scored the only goal of the game as the Buccaneers overcame City, who played most of the game with a man down following Fagrie Lakay's sending off in the 33rd minute.
Reikerink felt his side were more dominant for most of the 90 minutes but were just unlucky not to have found the back of the net.
"It was almost a copy of the game we played in the bubble. I think if you see the game we dominated three quarters of the game. I think we started good. And I think we deserved the last chance, the last goal. That is what you hope for. When you throw everything forward. Unlucky for the guys we didn't score," the Dutch tactician told SuperSport after the game.
"But I'm very proud the way they presented themselves. They worked hard. We had the opportunity but it didn't go our way.
"Pirates could not find a solution to break us down. I said before the game, this team has such a great unity. They fight for each other. And some games you will win, some you will lose. But I must compliment them for their team spirit.
"The other conclusion is that we lost. We are happy with the unity but we need results. But again it was a great team effort."
