Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi praised debut Aiden McCarthy following the team's 1-1 draw against Sekhukhune United on Saturday.
The Amakhosi had a disjointed start and trailed inside three minutes through Ellis Rammala, but rallied back on the stroke of halftime courtesy of Glodly Lilepo.
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The Tunisian tactician felt a draw was a deserved result in the end, but did note the missed chances on both ends.
“It’s a deserved point, but we feel the three points could’ve gone either way," Nabi told SuperSport TV.
"The two teams both had chances to score but with all the absentees we had we knew that it’s a deserved point.
McCarthy lasted 78 minutes on his debut for the Chiefs first team at left-back.
“It’s true that we didn’t enter (start) the game well in the first two- three minutes, we conceded a goal with a back-line that probably played together for the first time with a lot of absentees as well.
“I think it’s an opportunity to congratulate a player like Aiden McCarthy, it’s his first game in the Premier League and he did a very good performance but we had the strong character to stay in the game, stay concentrated and as well as we scored in the last minute of the first half was a very good moment for us which gave us the opportunity to go into halftime with morale and a bit stronger,” he added.