- Kaizer Chiefs suffered a 1-0 defeat to Red Arrows in the first leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday, October 17
- Coach Fernando Da Cruz criticised his side's first-half display, saying they lacked the aggression needed to compete
- The Premier Soccer League giants must overturn the deficit in the second leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has expressed belief that Amakhosi can still advance to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage despite falling behind in the tie against Zambian side Red Arrows.
Chiefs lost 1-0 in the first leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday, leaving them with work to do ahead of the return fixture on Friday at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
**Da Cruz Points to First-Half Frailties**
The Portuguese coach was candid in his assessment of the opening period, saying his players failed to produce the intensity and aggression the occasion demanded. Chiefs showed some improvement after the interval but could not manufacture enough clear-cut chances before Red Arrows punished them from a set piece late in the match.
Despite the setback, Da Cruz kept his focus firmly on what lies ahead. "We want to congratulate Red Arrows on the game. We conceded a goal via a set piece and now we're focusing on the second leg at home because we know we are capable of winning the second leg," he said.
Analyst Sees Path to Comeback, but Flags Risk
Football analyst Uche Anuma, speaking exclusively to Briefly News, outlined the conditions under which he believes Chiefs can turn the tie around at home.
"I think Kaizer Chiefs are capable of pulling a comeback in the second leg if they do the right things in Durban," Anuma said.
He did, however, flag a significant concern heading into the match. "The only issue I have ahead of the second leg is that Red Arrows kept a clean sheet, and if they find a way to score then it would be a problem for Da Cruz and his boys," Anuma added.
The clean sheet conceded by Chiefs in Zambia means Red Arrows require only a single away goal at Moses Mabhida to significantly complicate Amakhosi's qualification hopes. Chiefs, by contrast, must win to progress, and must do so while keeping their opponents off the scoresheet if the match is to finish 1-0 in their favour.
Friday's second leg will be a decisive test of whether Da Cruz can lift his side's performance levels to those required for continental competition.
Source: Briefly News
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