Da Cruz questions Pirates goal as Chiefs suffer first Betway Premiership defeat

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz criticised Orlando Pirates’ opening goal and suggested it should have been ruled offside during Saturday’s Soweto Derby.

Chiefs lost 2-1 to the Buccaneers at FNB Stadium, suffering their first defeat of the Betway Premiership campaign as Orlando Pirates moved top of the table.

Yanela Mbuthuma put Pirates ahead in the 24th minute, although replays appeared to indicate the striker may have been in an offside position when he scored.

Da Cruz also suggested Chiefs could have been awarded a red card during the match. Speaking to SuperSport after the final whistle, he said his side had failed to take control of the contest despite creating enough opportunities in the first half.

“The analysis is very easy, in the first half we must kill this game, normally two-three zero because goal of Pirates we still have to review it was offside and maybe there’s a red card so if we score two or three goals we kill this game,” Da Cruz told SuperSport after the game.

The Chiefs manager felt the balance of the game changed late on, with his younger players unable to create further chances because of their lack of experience.

“And in the second half, in the last 20 minutes with our young players – you have a lack of experience – they don’t create chances because they have a lack of experience we give them more chances to score more goals.

“They created nothing, we offered them the offensive transition.”

Despite the defeat, Da Cruz praised his team’s performance after they went into the derby without five first-team players, all of whom were injured.

He said Chiefs had competed well for most of the match before fatigue became a factor in the closing stages.

“I’m very happy about the team because we’re a young team, we missed five players- five injured players as well and play as we made today, I want to congratulate the players, in the last 20 minutes we were tired but I want to congratulate the players one more time.”