TKO exit doesn't feel nice, says Komphela

Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela admits that the Telkom Knockout Cup loss to his former team Free State Stars has left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The Soweto giants came from behind on two occasions in the encounter after El La Koto twice went ahead through strikes by Bokang Thlone and name Thokozani Sekotlong, but goals from Edmore Chirambadare and Eric Mathoho forced the game into extra-time and eventually penalties, which ended in 6-5 to Free State.

"Our levels of concentration were not as usual in defence," Komphela said in post-match comments.

"In the beginning of the match we concede. A right footed curler from a left footed player. Then we go on to give space inside the box at a crucial time.

"But we had two great comebacks. We came back and equalised.

"I think in the first half we should have wrapped up the match. I don’t know how many number of chances we created. We should have taken them."

A combination of poor finishing and a brilliant goalkeeping performance by former Chiefs development product Thela Ngobeni kept the Naturena-based outfit at bay and Komphela could not hide disappointment after the game.

"No wonder Thela is the man-of-the-match, we can’t take it away from him," he added.

"On the day he was on top of his game and I wish them the very best. We need to go back and look at the mistakes that we made.

"I saw the fighting spirit in our team, but at the back of all that we go home with nothing.

"It doesn’t feel nice, it’s more that you are lying to yourself because after you have given so much commitment and passion to the game you want to go home with something.

"If we went back into the dressing room with something we could say that we fought hard for it. They (Free State) took the penalties very well."

Komphela's charges next assignment is against Mamelodi Sundowns when Premiership action returns on Saturday, November 21.