Da Cruz refuses to blame Petersen after Kaizer Chiefs exit MTN8

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has rejected the idea that goalkeeper Brandon Petersen was solely responsible for the club’s 1-0 defeat by Golden Arrows in the MTN8.

Chiefs’ return to the competition after a three-year absence ended at the first hurdle on Sunday night, when they were beaten by Arrows at FNB Stadium in the opening round.

Petersen was caught out in the second half as Khulekani Shezi’s cross-cum-shot found its way into the net, giving Golden Arrows the only goal of the match. The incident placed the spotlight on the Chiefs goalkeeper, but Da Cruz said the result should not be attributed to one player.

The Chiefs coach instead highlighted his side’s failure to make the most of its opportunities, while also acknowledging the importance of the goal that separated the teams.

“The mindset, the comfort of the player, nothing to say because we missed a lot of chances today,” Da Cruz told SuperSport after the game.

“The score is unfortunately is the only one goal changes in the half and after that we tried to come back, but we had a lack of efficiency there.”

Asked specifically about Petersen’s role in the goal, Da Cruz said he would assess the moment again after reviewing the match, while suggesting that Shezi may have intended to deliver a cross rather than shoot.

“I will look at the goal because I will watch the game, but I think the player missed his cross and we lose it all the team lose.

“I don’t want to say we lost because of one player.”

The defeat brought Chiefs’ MTN8 campaign to an early conclusion, shortly after their return to the tournament following a three-year absence. Golden Arrows progressed from the first-round meeting with the narrowest possible victory.

Chiefs must now quickly turn their attention back to domestic league football. Their next fixture is in the Betway Premiership, where they are scheduled to face Sekhukhune United on Wednesday night.

Da Cruz will therefore have to prepare his players for that match while putting the disappointment of the MTN8 result behind them. His immediate public response, however, was to protect Petersen from being made the sole scapegoat for the defeat and to focus instead on the team’s overall lack of efficiency in front of goal.