Middendorp bemoans difficult pitch and luck as nedbank cup eludes kaizer chiefs yet again

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Middendorp Bemoans Difficult Pitch and Luck as Nedbank Cup Eludes Kaizer Chiefs Yet Again

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp expressed his frustration and disappointment after his team's Nedbank Cup semifinal defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic, citing a difficult pitch and a lack of luck as the main reasons for their elimination.

Chiefs, who were seeking to win their first major trophy since 2015, were defeated 2-1 by Celtic at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. The Amakhosi dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities, but ultimately fell short due to a combination of poor finishing and some questionable refereeing decisions.

"We had a difficult pitch, which made it hard for us to play our normal game," Middendorp said in his post-match interview. "The ball was bouncing all over the place, and it was hard to control. We also had some bad luck, with some decisions going against us. But ultimately, we didn't take our chances when they mattered most."

Middendorp also felt that his team's lack of clinical finishing was a major factor in their defeat. "We created a lot of chances, but we didn't convert them into goals," he said. "When you're playing against a team like Celtic, who are very organized and defend well, you need to be clinical in front of goal. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that today."

The defeat marks the third consecutive year that Chiefs have failed to win the Nedbank Cup, and Middendorp acknowledged that it was a disappointing outcome for the team. "We're very disappointed, of course," he said. "We had high hopes of winning the tournament, but it wasn't meant to be. We'll have to regroup and focus on the league now."

Despite the disappointment, Middendorp remains optimistic about his team's chances in the league. "We're still in a good position in the league, and we'll keep fighting to win it," he said. "We'll learn from our mistakes and come back stronger next season."