Chiefs crash out after penalty heartbreak in Durban

Kaizer Chiefs failed to progress to the group stages of the Caf Confederation Cup after losing 3-2 on penalties to Red Arrows of Zambia in the final play-off round match at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday.

There was hope Amakhosi could repeat what they did in this competition last season when they reached the group stages, but despite Bradley Cross cancelling Arrows’ solitary goal, they won 1-0 in Ndola last Saturday, three penalty misses by Lebohang Maboe, Reeve Frosler and Ethan Chislett saw Fernando da Cruz’s team bow out.

After a blunt first half in which Chiefs created no clear-cut chances, once Mfundo Vilakazi entered the fray in the second half, Chiefs managed to find a late equaliser through Cross’s header off Vilakazi’s free kick. But two crucial misses by striker Mduduzi Shabalala ruined Chiefs’ chances of winning this match.

The defeat will pile more pressure on Da Cruz before two crucial domestic fixtures in the coming week in which the Frenchman will have to guide Amakhosi in the last 16 of the Carling Knockout Cup at home against TS Galaxy on Tuesday before facing Soweto arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership tie at FNB Stadium on October 31.