AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy believes his side should have been awarded penalties during their defeat by Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup this past Sunday afternoon.

Usuthu tasted a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Buccaneers after Deon Hotto scored the winning goal, while Tapelo Xoki had his penalty saved by Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane late in the second half.

McCarthy felt that if there was any justice in this life that there would’ve been a different outcome to the match.

“I’m going to say, out of courtesy, congratulations to Pirates. They took their chance that came to them and they scored and, for us, you saw what we were about and if there was in this life justice we would be standing here saying a different story,” McCarthy told SuperSport TV post-game.

“If you are a football lover and you see what’s happening in the game when it comes to decisions that cost your team, to get knocked out of the competition. I counted three penalties – so because we get one, you must now be happy because it’s justice. Hey, come on, there is no justice.

“It was a great game of football. Yes, we’re a small team but on the pitch we show a lot of heart and a lot of character and I can’t be more proud of this group of players that we have. Being away from … But, for us, a lot of positives to take away and we can only get better and I’m super proud of my players and they couldn’t have done more.

“They were beaten by the man in the middle today, not by our opponents and I’m going to stick to that because that’s my feeling and everyone else that loves football and knows football. We weren’t beaten by our opponents today.”