Nasreddine Da Cruz gripped the dugout railing at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night and watched Kaizer Chiefs' CAF Confederation Cup dream evaporate in a 3-2 penalty shootout defeat, leaving 60 000 Amakhosi faithful stunned into silence.

The Algerian head coach told reporters after the final whistle that his players created enough scoring opportunities to win the tie comfortably in regulation, yet squandered each one before the cruellest lottery in football delivered its verdict. Chiefs finished the contest level on aggregate, forcing extra time and, ultimately, the shootout that ended their continental journey.

CAF confirmed the result stands without protest, with the opposing club advancing to the next round as per competition regulations. SAPS officers maintained order outside the stadium as thousands of supporters filtered onto Nasrec Road, many shaking their heads and clutching Amakhosi scarves in disbelief at the outcome.

Da Cruz took charge of Chiefs earlier this season amid high expectations of a deep African run following the club's domestic recruitment drive. The Soweto giants navigated earlier group stages with controlled performances, building momentum that made Wednesday's collapse all the more jarring for management and followers alike.

One moment crystallised the agony better than any statistic: striker Ranga Chivaviro, standing three metres from an open net in the 78th minute, struck the crossbar with his right boot — the rebound falling straight into the goalkeeper's arms rather than the back of the net, drawing an audible collective groan from every stand.

Whether Da Cruz retains the full backing of Chiefs' hierarchy heading into their next PSL fixture remains the pressing question now hovering over Naturena. The coach spoke calmly, accepted responsibility publicly, and pledged to analyse every missed opportunity — but supporters deserve to know: how long will this squad keep paying for profligacy in front of goal before decisive changes arrive?

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