Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane felt his side did not make the most of their opportunities in their thrilling Soweto derby clash against Orlando Pirates.

The Glamour Boys crashed out of the Nedbank Cup at the semi-final stage after they were commended to a 2-1 defeat against the Buccaneers.

Kermit Erasmus opened the scoring for Pirates in the 14th minute but a 79th minute goal from Yusuf Maart levelled matters, forcing the game into extra time.

Chiefs failed to make the most of their chances and were left to rue their misses as substitute Sandile Mthethwa bagged the all-important goal that saw Pirates book their place in the final.

Zwane was satisfied with the team’s overall performance but felt that could have won the game inside the regulation 90 minutes.

“As always, we were on the front foot from the start. We controlled the tempo of the game and we forced them to make mistakes as well,” Zwane told his cub’s official website.

“We managed to get the equaliser and from that moment, we looked like we could get the second goal. We did create the opportunity but we didn’t take it.

“When you go to extra-time, you know, the legs start getting heavy and players aren’t as sharp. That’s how we conceded the second goal.

”We made the players aware after last Sunday, that in dead ball situations, if they play the ball far post we need bodies in there. After conceding goals like that last Sunday, we had a lapse in concentration and conceded again.

Zwane has praised his side’s character and looked at the positive despite their disappointing result against their arch-rivals Pirates.

“We always wanted to go for it. If you look at the chances we created today, Saile was in the right place. Ash (Du Preez) was in space to exploit, and he did exploit it,” he added.

We just couldn’t find the target, which is something we can work on. It is better to have players on the field who understand what they ae supposed to do.

“You win some, you lose some. Sometimes you take those opportunities. We didn’t take them and we paid the price. That’s why we are in this situation, where we are knocked out, because we didn’t take those chances.

“I cannot fault the effort or the commitment of the players. They gave their best and I am proud of them.”

Photo by Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix