sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Miguel Cardoso has accused match officials of intentionally disadvantaging his team. He showcased his phone, revealing an image that he claims indicates Kaizer Chiefs’ second goal, scored by Ashley du Preez, was offside.
Cardoso voiced his frustration regarding the absence of VAR in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), arguing that had it been in use, the play would have been reviewed and declared offside.
During the final moments of the Nedbank Cup semi-final at Loftus Stadium on Sunday, Chiefs capitalized on a free kick within Sundowns’ half.
Du Preez, who substituted for Wandile Duba, the initial goal-scorer, appeared to be in an offside position when he received a cross from George Matlou and scored, earning Chiefs a chance to compete in the Nedbank Cup final for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
Chiefs are scheduled to face off against their rivals, Orlando Pirates, in the Soweto Derby for the Ke Yona Cup final on May 10 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“I firmly believe that the goal was offside,” Cardoso commented after the match.
“If you missed it, take a look at the image again because it’s clear. Operating in a country without VAR leads to these outcomes.”
“Just review the footage; you have the capability to access those images, so pull the one from the broadcast.”
“As a team that has been eliminated from this tournament due to a referee’s decision, I feel we have suffered unjust treatment this season regarding officiating.”
“I still remember the goals we scored in the match we didn’t win (against Golden Arrows); specifically, the game where Peter Shalulile netted multiple goals, and our exit from the competition came due to an offside call just five or four minutes before the final whistle.”
Even though Sundowns, who finished as runners-up to Pirates in last year’s final, are out of the Nedbank Cup, they will be competing against Al Ahly next weekend in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final at Loftus Stadium. The return match is set for April 25 in Cairo.
Cardoso, who faced Al Ahly in the Champions League final last season while leading ES Esperance, highlighted the need to regroup and concentrate, noting that their season is still ongoing.
“We need to bounce back; we win as a unit, we lose as a unit,” he emphasized.
“We could have done better. I have no complaints about the Chiefs; they played well and gave their best—congratulations to them and coach [Nasreddine Nabi]. We simply wish we could have accomplished more. However, we are out of the competition now, and there is still a long story to tell. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time to write the last chapter of this tale; it is what it is.”
