Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is thrilled that his players utilised the decisive moments well during their 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
Pirates secured a morale-boosting win at the FNB Stadium to cut Sundowns’ league lead to 15 points and with four games in hand, Riveiro’s men are back in the hunt for the title.
Relebohile Mofokeng scored two goals in as many minutes when Pirates took a 2-0 lead inside five minutes and although Khuliso Mudau later pulled one back, they held on for the win and Riveiro is happy that they killed the game off early.
How did Pirates sink Sundowns?
“Beautiful beginning of the game, getting the advantage early as we wanted, trying to control the game as good as we could,” Riveiro told SABC.
“They are a very good team, it is difficult to control everything when you have to defend against them. I think we did a good job. It is true that they came close in the second half, no clear chances but every action seemed to be the same again and again so I think it was a good game from our side and a good game from them.”
With Pirates winning the game with just 30 percent of the ball, Riveiro explained why possession is not important in games like those as long as the key moments are utilised.
“When we left Loftus, I think they had 30 or 29 percent possession and we lost [4-1 in February]. I think today is the other way, I think they had 70 percent and they are the ones losing. This is football, it is about scoring goals and today, we scored one more goal than them, so three points,” added Riveiro.
Bucs coach not happy with low block
The Spanish tactician was, however, not impressed that his side showed some nervousness when Sundowns attacked, forcing them to defend very close to their goal.
“We were defending extremely low because they force you to defend like that. Had we had the spaces we had in the second half, we should have been a little calmer in those situations to try to ensure one or two passes after stealing the ball and having the opportunity to run a little bit more and create some chances in the second half and we couldn’t,” he said.
“We missed a little bit of composure in those moments but overall, it is a worthy performance from the team and we are happy because they show who they are and what they are capable to do.”
With the win, Pirates have now moved to 43 points, 15 behind Sundowns, from 19 matches and have four games in hand which if they win, the gap will just be three points.
