McCarthy: AmaZulu were robbed by the ‘man in the middle’ [VIDEO]

The match was dead-locked at 0-0 at half-time, but the Buccaneers went ahead in the 53rd minute thanks to an all-important goal from Deon Hotto, which ultimately buried AmaZulu.

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Although McCarthy’s side did have a chance to get back in the game with a late penalty, Tapelo Xoki’s spot-kick was saved by Siyabonga Mpontshane.

Midway through the first half AmaZulu were denied a strong shout for a penalty, but referee Masixole Bambiso ultimately opted to restart the game with a dropped-ball where the incident took place.

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Speaking to SuperSport after the game, McCarthy suggested there was no justice in the result.

“I’m going to say out of courtesy, congratulations to Orlando Pirates. They took their chance that came to them and they scored, and for us you saw what we were about and if there was justice in this life, we would be standing here saying a different story,” he told SuperSport TV.

“If you are a football lover and you see what’s happening in the game when it comes to decisions that cost your team, to get knocked out of the competition. I counted three penalties so because we get one, you must now be happy because it’s justice. Hey, come on, there is no justice.

“But anyway it was a great game of football. Yes, we’re a small team but on the pitch we show a lot of heart and a lot of character and I can’t be more proud of this group of players that we have… But for us a lot of positives to take away and we can only get better, and I’m super proud of my team and they couldn’t have done more.

“They were beaten by the man in the middle today, not by our opponents and I’m going to stick to that because that’s my feeling and everyone else that loves football and knows football. We weren’t beaten by our opponents today.”

PIRATES AND AMAZULU TEAMS

Orlando Pirates

Mpontshane, Shandu, Ndah, Jele, Mako, Makhubela, Mosele, Monare, Lorch, Hotto, Peprah

Substitutes: Sandilands, Maela, Mabaso, Jooste, Motshwari, Makaringe, Dzvukamanja, Dlamini, Lepasa

AmaZulu

Mothwa, Gumede, Khumalo, Xoki, Malepe, Ceesay, Makhaula, Buchanan, Memela, Mulenga, Ntuli

Substitutes: Boshoff, Sikhakane, Zulu, Mgwazela, Moremi, Ekstein, Mlambo, Qalinge, Majok

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