Fernando Da Cruz Raises Questions Over Orlando Pirates’ Opening Goal In Soweto Derby

Da Cruz Questions ‘Offside’ Goal As Kaizer Chiefs Suffer Painful Soweto Derby Defeat

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has questioned the decision to allow Orlando Pirates’ opening goal to stand during Saturday’s Soweto Derby, insisting that Yanela Mbuthuma was in an offside position when he scored.

The French tactician was left frustrated after Amakhosi suffered a 2-1 defeat against their bitter rivals at a sold-out FNB Stadium on 31 October 2026. Although Chiefs showed attacking intent and created opportunities, they could not turn their promising first-half performance into a positive result.

Pirates took the lead through Mbuthuma in the 24th minute, before Pule Mmodi restored parity for Chiefs six minutes later. Tshepang Moremi then scored the decisive goal in the 55th minute to secure all three Betway Premiership points for the Buccaneers.

Speaking after the match, Da Cruz made it clear that he believed the opening goal should not have counted.

According to the Chiefs coach, the match could have developed differently had the officials correctly assessed the position of the Pirates striker.

“In the first half we must kill this game. Normally, 2 or 3-0 because the goal of Pirates, we’ve seen it’s offside and maybe there is a red card as well,” Da Cruz said, as reported by iDiski Times.

The coach also suggested that Pirates should have had a player sent off after an incident involving a possible second yellow card.

However, it is important to note that these were Da Cruz’s views following the match, rather than an official ruling that the goal was offside or that a red card was wrongly withheld.

Beyond the controversial moment, Da Cruz admitted that his team had opportunities to take control of the derby before half-time.

Chiefs started positively and threatened the Pirates defence on several occasions. Their pressure eventually paid off when Mmodi reacted quickest after goalkeeper Sipho Chaine failed to hold a cross from Mfundo Vilakazi.

The equaliser gave Amakhosi renewed confidence, and they entered the break with the match level at 1-1.

Da Cruz believed his players should have made more of their first-half dominance.

“If we score two or three goals, we’re gonna kill this game,” he added.

Pirates returned from the interval with greater purpose and found the breakthrough through Moremi ten minutes into the second half.

Chiefs struggled to produce the same attacking threat afterwards. Da Cruz attributed their difficulties towards the closing stages partly to fatigue and the lack of experience among some of his young players.

He nevertheless praised his squad, pointing out that five players were unavailable through injury.

The defeat was Chiefs’ first in the league under Da Cruz and left them with questions to answer as the season progresses.

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