Kaizer Chiefs manager Fernando Da Cruz has expressed his frustration with referee Luxolo Badi following his side's 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in Saturday's Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium. The French coach questioned several officiating decisions and suggested that Pirates enjoyed an unfair advantage during the highly anticipated encounter.

Orlando Pirates claimed victory through goals from Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi, while Pule Mmodi found the net for Kaizer Chiefs. The victory moved the Buccaneers to the top of the Betway Premiership standings, leaving Amakhosi in fifth place.

Speaking after the final whistle, Da Cruz raised concerns about Pirates' opening goal, arguing that Mbuthuma was offside when he scored. He also questioned why a Pirates player was not shown a second yellow card during the first half, which would have resulted in a dismissal.

The Chiefs manager believes those incidents had a major influence on the contest, insisting that his team would have had a better opportunity to compete if Pirates had been reduced to 10 players.

Expressing his disappointment, the Frenchman said:

“Pirates play as 12 and not 11,” the Frenchman stated.

“The first goal is offside, and then a player of Pirates deserves a second yellow, meaning red card. And then we play 11 vs 10 and not 11 vs 11.”

Despite his complaints about the officiating, Da Cruz admitted that Kaizer Chiefs failed to make proper use of their opportunities in the first half. He believes his players should have scored more goals before the break to put themselves in a stronger position.

Chiefs initially responded to Mbuthuma's opener through Mmodi, but their attacking performance declined after the interval. Pirates improved following their halftime adjustments, with Moremi eventually finding the winning goal through a counter-attacking move.

Da Cruz also identified tiredness and limited experience as factors behind his team's struggles towards the end of the encounter.

Reflecting on their second-half performance, he explained:

“In the second half we were less dangerous in our game. To finish the last 20 minutes we were tired.

“Maybe we concede two or three more goals, but it’s not chances Pirates created but because we are tired and lack of experience we give them opportunity to kill the game in transition.”

Source:

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/betway-premiership/da-cruz-critical-of-derby-referee/#google_vignette