Ernst Middendorp has leapt to the defence of under-fire goalkeeper Virgil Vries after his error handed Mamelodi Sundowns all three points over the weekend.
Vries, who was deputising for the injured Itumeleng Khune, misjudged a long ball over the top, and as the ball bounced over his head Lebohang Maboe was on hand to smash home into an empty net and give his side the 2-1 victory.
Chiefs produced a strong display in the encounter and arguably deserved at least a point prior to Vries’ error, which has seen the keeper face the wrath of the Amakhosi faithful.
Watch: Pitso, Middendorp react as Downs edge Chiefs
Middendorp, however, has come out and backed the keeper who looks likely to deputise for Khune, who will miss the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury that he sustained.
‘He remains a good keeper… He recovered immediately, and no doubt Virgil will soldier on with the support from the team,’ the German coach told the Chiefs’ official website.
READ: Khune set to miss the remainder of the season
‘We committed mistakes here and there. We conceded two goals through mistakes. The good thing is, in our dressing room we don’t single out players and play a blame game. We are professionals and we take a loss as a collective.
‘We had moments where we could have scored the winner, there were several missed opportunities. We will go back to the training grounds to rectify those. At the end we lost against a resolute Sundowns and I wish to congratulate them.’
The Soweto giants will look to bounce back for the defeat when they come up against table toppers Bidvest Wits on Wednesday evening.
