McCarthy: Players didn't turn up against Chiefs

Cape Town - Cape Town City head coach Benni McCarthy admits his players were not up to the challenge on Saturday when they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Kaizer Chiefs.

Ryan Moon produced the winning strike for the Amakhosi two minutes into the second half and McCarthy lamented City's inability to deal with the pressure.

"This is a game if you want to win the league, you got to beat the best teams and you can’t afford to have off days. Today, we were nowhere near our best and our capabilities and we looked nervous.

"We were very nervous. We were second best to everything. Chiefs deserved the points. We had our moments here and there, but we made too many mistakes and we allowed them in where our defence was caught in two minds allowing Ryan Moon in and the form he is in, he is going to score those chances," McCarthy told SuperSport.

City had a chance to move up to second in the Premiership standings with a win, but instead it was Chiefs who climbed up to the runners-up spot, four points adrift of Mamelodi Sundowns.

McCarthy added: "I have to give credit to Steve Komphela and his charges. From the start of the game, they pressed us very high because obviously they noticed that Robyn wasn’t in the side and obviously he is the one that gets us going from playing out at the back.

"So we had to change our tactics and try and go on the longer route which didn’t suit us because we had smaller guys on the wings. Too many players didn't turn up today."

City next play a return leg of a CAF Confed Cup fixture against Swazi side Young Buffaloes at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Kick-off is at 19:30.