Da Cruz: There should have been a red card for Pirates
by Kickoff writer · KickOffKaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz questioned some of the officiating in the 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby on Saturday afternoon.
Chiefs, who have blown and hot cold this season, came in the match buoyant from a 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout last 16 in midweek, but have now suffered their first defeat of the season in the Premiership.
Following a positive start to the match, the Amakhosi capitulated and the coach believes that a lack of experience from some of their youngsters in a game of this magnitude allowed the Buccaneers to seize the moment.
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“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.
“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."
With relation to the make-up of the team, Da Cruz who made his derby debut as coach believes that the charges acquitted themselves well barring the absence of five injured players and admitted that they were tired in the last 20 minutes of the match.
“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,” Da Cruz said.