Middendorp laments “unfortunate decisions” as Chiefs endure lean spell

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has had a second look at games that have not gone his side’s way, and believes a few decision might have cost them victory.

The 2020 half of the ongoing season has not been as kind for the Glamour Boys as the first few months were, as they find they gap they opened at the top of the league standings narrowing down, while also having their cup dreams dashed.

Luck deserts Kaizer Chiefs

Their most recent outing saw them crash out of the Nedbank Cup after losing on penalties away to Highlands Park at a wet Makhulong Stadium.

The German mentor felt that his opponents on the day brought their A-game, although things could have been different had a referee’s decision in extra-time gone the way of the visitors.

“Both teams played under unfavourable conditions,” says Middendorp as quoted in Chiefs’ official website. “We struggled a bit to adapt but I thought we could have been awarded a penalty during extra-time when Dumsani Zuma was tripped with a clear chance to score.”

Ernst Middendorp

An unkind year

After losing just once during the 2019 half of the campaign, Chiefs began the new year on the worst note possible by suffering an away defeat to Supersport United.

After returning to winning ways through emphatic victories against Highlands Park and Cape Town City, they dropped points once more via a one-all draw against the struggling Black Leopards before an unconvincing win away to Golden Arrows.

In the Nedbank Cup, Chiefs progressed past the first round through a narrow 1-0 victory over first-division outfit Royal Eagles, before crashing out in Thembisa.

On either side of their cup fixtures, there was a 2-1 home league defeat to Maritzburg United, which has seen the chasing pack close in on them.

Middendorp feels that some of these results could have been avoided.

“It is a run of unfortunate decisions if you start from the game we lost against SuperSport United in the league. We lost against Maritzburg United last week and judging by the reviews we were denied the penalty that could have changed the game. We will take it in the spirit of football and move on. We will remain calm, keep our focus and prepare for the next match.”

Ernst Middendorp

Chiefs have another big assignment on the weekend, as they take on rivals Orlando Pirates in another installment of the Soweto Derby.

Kick-off is at 15:30 (SAST).