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NEWS: Benni refuses to comment on officiating after Chiefs earn late penalty against AmaZulu

AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy refused to criticise the match officials at risk of facing the wrath of the PSL’s disciplinary committee after his side’s 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs.

Benni McCarthy - AmaZulu v Pirates
Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports

AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy refused to criticise the match officials at risk of facing the wrath of the PSL's disciplinary committee after his side's 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Usuthu looked to have done enough to secure three points courtesy of Luvuyo Memela’s strike two minutes after half-time. However, with the very last action of the match, Chiefs were awarded a dubious penalty which Keagan Dolly converted to leave a very bitter taste in AmaZulu mouths.

Lebogang Manyama appeared to handle the ball in the buildup to the penalty being awarded. McCarthy, who has been punished by PSL DC Nande Becker in the past for slamming referees, was not drawn into doing the same this time around.

“That’s football for you,” McCarthy told SuperSport TV. “You have to play until the final whistle and we didn’t and unfortunately we get one point.

“My boys did what they had to do. Complete dominance of the game. Controlled every situation. Chiefs had to revert to playing long balls and crosses. The mobility that we have we try and get in behind their midfield and then we try use the spped of Maduna, Memela and Ceesay and Ntuli.

“We got some joy from it and I think after going 1-0 up Memela had another chance. You don’t put these chances away then you will always leave yourself exposed, like we did in the last minute.

“Penalty against us. One point. Not what we were hoping for. Kaizer Chiefs are a big team, big players, they play until the final whistle.

“We have to be content with one point. We move on. We go into the international break. Give the players a bit of a rest and then focus on our next fixture in the CAF Champions League.

“When you up against quality opposition then you’ve got to raise your level. We had to lift our game. We certainly did that. But unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. The referee had other ideas. We have to accept. Sometimes you’re not going to like every decision. We have to take it on the chin.

“We can be proud of what we did today. They’ve got really top-class players and for us to go toe to toe with them and to show the quality and how far we’ve come. We can pat ourselves on the back. We can just have better luck time.

“If we talk about the officiating, then you get called to the DC, so it’s best I keep it as positive and polite and smiley so that he can be happy.”

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

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