Orlando Pirates boss thrilled with rejigged strikeforce

orlando pirates boss thrilled with rejigged strikeforce

Orlando Pirates boss thrilled with rejigged strikeforce

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was full of praise for his team after their 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns and especially his rejigged attack.

Riveiro was forced to make some adjustments with the departure of Thembinkosi Lorch.

Orlando Pirates boss thrilled

He would start with Bafana Bafana star Evidence Makgopa up top in front of a trio of attacking players in Deon Hotto, Patrick Maswanganyi and Monnapule Saleng.

Riveiro believes the match might have turned out differently if Orlando Pirates took their early chances and stayed 11 vs 11.

The structure gave Miguel Timm a lot of defensive work to do and he would wind up picking up a second yellow and getting his marching orders on 54 minutes.

Sundowns broke through late on but a penalty gave Orlando Pirates a lifeline and Tapelo Xoki stepped up to snatch a point for the team.

“Credit to the players, after the break coming to the game like this and performing the way they did, running, fighting, grabbing the game-plan, really strong in the first-half,” Riveiro told SuperSport TV.

“With a different scenario in the second-half, with one-man down but I think apart from crosses, one or two set-pieces, I think we managed to contain them very well, I don’t remember any saves from our goalkeeper. So it talks a lot about the defensive job that we (did) in the second-half.”

Riveiro okays the effort

The effort delighted Riveiro.

“We had a different front today, a different organization upfront and I think it worked very well, it was about details, small things in the last third and we didn’t manage to get the lead in the first-half but I think we were superior,” he added.

“It’s a pity we couldn’t complete 90 minutes with 11 (players) and see what happens in the last part of the game, where we’re pound for pound but overall I think we can only congratulate the boys.

“The coaching staff, they did a fantastic job in this four weeks, we came here prepared to fight for the three points and I think we did it.”

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