McCarthy’s Proud 4-0 UCL Nightmare
Aden McCarthy’s appearance at Old Trafford was a genuine milestone. The 22-year-old centre-back, a Kaizer Chiefs academy graduate and son of former Bafana Bafana defender Fabian McCarthy, started and completed the full 90 minutes in Sabah’s 4-0 Champions League league-phase defeat to Manchester United on 10 September 2026.
Sabah, only founded in 2017 and Azerbaijani champions for the first time last season, had already completed a remarkable qualifying run to reach the league phase. McCarthy joined them from Chiefs in June after a strong breakthrough campaign of 33 appearances and two goals. Facing United in their first-ever Champions League league-stage match was the biggest night of his young career.
United were clinical after a relatively slow start. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Šeško added two more before half-time, and Lisandro Martínez finished the scoring in the 68th minute after a defensive mix-up that involved McCarthy.
The gulf in quality was clear, but McCarthy’s presence in the starting XI against a Premier League side at the Theatre of Dreams still registered as a proud moment for South African football.
Kaizer Chiefs fans and South African supporters were quick to celebrate the occasion rather than dwell on the scoreline.
Former Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr posted “Proud of you Aden. KC Academy,” capturing the prevailing sentiment.
For a player who only established himself in the Chiefs first team last season, lining up against United so soon after leaving Naturena is a significant leap, even in defeat.
The experience of that night will almost certainly prove more valuable than the result itself.
