Kaizer Chiefs head coach, Fernando da Cruz, revealed the reasons for his team Amakhosi's 1-0 defeat to Red Arrows in the CAF Confederation Cup match held in Zambia on Saturday.
The goal was scored in the 76th minute at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola from a corner kick, leaving the Chiefs team needing to turn the situation around in the second match to advance to the group stage.
Da Cruz particularly criticized his team's play in the first half of the match, admitting that they lacked the necessary intensity and drive for effective competition. He stated: 'We played a slow first half without aggression; we didn't engage in tackles, but the second half was better, although we didn't create many chances.'
Despite the improvement in play after the break, Chiefs struggled to create clear scoring opportunities before Red Arrows managed to capitalize on a set-piece and take the lead late in the game.
This result puts Amakhosi under pressure ahead of the return match, which will take place on Friday at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, where they need to find a way to change the course of the confrontation.
Da Cruz congratulated the Zambian team on their performance but emphasized that Chiefs are capable of securing the necessary victory at home. The coach noted: 'We want to congratulate Red Arrows on their game. We conceded a goal from a set-piece, and now we are focused on the second match at home because we know we can win the second leg.'
The coach also pointed to the quality of the pitch as one of the factors that hindered the implementation of their preferred style of play. He added: 'The pitch did not suit us; it did not match our playing model; the players adapted well to the conditions, but it wasn't ideal.'
Nevertheless, Da Cruz admitted that his team must work on itself and not attribute the defeat to external conditions. He concluded: 'We feel pressure every day; this is not a problem for us, but we simply lack intensity in the game, and we need to work on that, and it will benefit us.'
This admission highlights Chiefs' reaction ahead of the return fixture. With only a one-goal difference, Amakhosi still has a chance to advance, but this will require greater aggression, intensity, and an attacking mindset to avoid early elimination from the continental tournament.