Molefi Ntseki shields Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen after costly error

The Glamour Boys conceded in the opening minute of their MTN8 semifinal second leg with the Brazilians already enjoying an advantage via the away-goal rule from the 1-1 draw three weeks ago at FNB Stadium.

Ntseki says the back pass, which went horribly wrong and got punished by striker Peter Shalulile, was part of Chiefs’ game plan.

"I think we have had moments like this because I normally say if you look at the last mistake in this case when we talk of Brandon, that mistake started somewhere and the mistake can always be technical or tactical. The mistake can also be mental because if you look at the situation when we started play, it was more of a tactical ploy but we knew that it would be putting us under pressure," Ntseki said.

While acknowledging Petersen could have dealt better with the threat, the Amakhosi mentor insists they failed as a team in that moment.

"I think in addressing that situation he could have done better but he's fully aware that it was our tactical ploy that did not work on the day and if it was a tactical ploy, it's not his mistake. It's a mistake that we made all of us and we own up," Ntseki added.

Petersen, having had a stellar game when Sundowns beat Chiefs by the same score line in a DStv Premiership clash at the same venue back in August, had the ball slip through his gloves as Neo Maema’s tame shot rattled the net for the winner.

Ntseki continues to have faith in the keeper.

"But the most important thing with Brandon I think he's a leader. He's a very strong person and I think even with us we are not looking at it to say 'It was your mistake', we are saying 'It was a mistake that happened, we did not respect and observe the difficult phases of the game because we were to start on the front foot. If that ball was to be played forward, it was to be starting the game on the front foot but it did not happen and in that situation, we ended up conceding.

So, it doesn't mean that we have got so many fingers pointed at each other."