Chiefs Manager Attributes Pirates Loss to Referee Error and Missed Opportunities

October 31, 2026 sportnow Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz feels that his team missed the opportunity to secure a commanding lead over Orlando Pirates before half-time during their disappointing loss on Saturday. Amakhosi faced a 2-1 defeat to their long-standing rivals in a packed Soweto Derby held at FNB Stadium, marking their first league defeat of the season in the Betway Premiership.

Currently, Chiefs sit fifth in the league table with 14 points, having struggled to achieve victories in the past weeks. Their previous league win was on September 6 against Siwelele, and they have since failed to regain their winning momentum.

The Glamour Boys fell behind before the 30-minute mark but equalized through Pule Mmodi shortly after the half-hour mark. However, Tshepang Moremi scored in the second half, ensuring all three points for Pirates, following Yanela Mbuthuma’s opener in the first half.

In his reflection on the loss, Da Cruz expressed that his team had played well enough in the first half to have established a comfortable lead. He also questioned the legitimacy of the Pirates’ first goal, claiming that Mbuthuma was in an offside position.

“The analysis is straightforward. In the first half, we needed to finish the game,” he said during an interview with SuperSport TV.

“The match could have been decided by half-time. Additionally, we conceded an offside goal. It was reviewed on video, indicating a significant refereeing error.

“We should have been leading by 2-0 or 3-0 at the break. In the second half, we dropped a bit below our level, but during the last 20 minutes, even with fatigue, they didn’t create any chances.

“We allowed them chances through transitions, which let them try to add to the scoreline, but they were unable to create anything on their own. Our inexperience and youth resulted in those transition mistakes.”

Despite the disappointment of the loss to their rivals, the French coach expressed contentment with his players’ performance overall, particularly given their youthful squad and the absence of five players.

Da Cruz commended his team for the quality exhibited against Pirates, asserting that they deserved recognition for their efforts despite showing fatigue in the closing moments of the match.

“I am happy with what the players accomplished since this is a young team,” he commented.

“Furthermore, we played without five players. To compete against Pirates in the manner we did, showcasing high quality despite these absences, I commend the players.

“They delivered a commendable performance, although fatigue became evident in the final 20 minutes.”

After their disappointment in the Soweto Derby, Chiefs will shift their focus to the Carling Knockout Cup, where they are set to meet Siwelele in a quarter-final match.

Amakhosi are eager to leverage the cup competition as a chance to bounce back and regain confidence following a challenging period in the league.