Pyramids FC coach Krunoslav Jurčić has reacted to the dramatic draw against Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League, claiming that his troops ‘won’ 2-0 in his opinion.
The Champions League semi-final first leg between the Egyptian side and Pirates at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday night ended in an entertaining 0-0 draw.
Tempers flared on both sides of the pitch in a match where the Video Assistant Referee [VAR] disallowed two Pyramids goals.
Pyramids endured a frustrating night in front of goal, twice having celebrations cut short by VAR. Their talisman, Fiston Mayele, thought he had broken the deadlock when he scored just before the half-time whistle. But VAR intervened, ruling the goal offside.
Agony struck again late in the second-half for the Cairo-based side when Sodiq Awujoola’s goal was disallowed due to a handball.
Following the heated exchange on the pitch, which resulted in a few members of the Pyramids getting yellow cards, the match finished 0-0, setting up an interesting second leg in Egypt on Friday [25 April].
WHAT PYRAMIDS FC COACH SAID ABOUT THEIR DRAW AGAINST PIRATES IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Although the two teams could not be separated in 90 minutes, Pyramids coach Jurčić says his team should have won against the Buccaneers, insinuating that the match officials, with the aid of VAR, made questionable calls.
“I want to say that I’m really proud of my team, we played a good match, but I’m disappointed because we scored two goals,” Jurčić said.
“I told you yesterday [Friday] in the press conference that we would play nice football, and we did. For me, I won 2-0. I like Africa, but not in this way. So I’m proud of my boys for how we played, and in the same way that I’m proud, I’m also disappointed.
“You know, when you play in the semi-final of the Champions League, you score two goals, and both goals are not given because of VAR intervention. It’s a little bit frustrating, but I’m proud of how we played.”
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