orlando pirates micho baroka

Milutin Sredojevic Coach of Orlando Pirates during the2018 Telkom Knockout Finals game between Baroka FC and Orlando Pirates at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 08 December 2018 © Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates news: Micho lauds his charges for holding their nerve in Baroka draw

Orlando Pirates coach, Milutin Sredojevic heaped praise on his charges for “giving everything” in the 1-1 draw against Baroka on Tuesday.

orlando pirates micho baroka

Milutin Sredojevic Coach of Orlando Pirates during the2018 Telkom Knockout Finals game between Baroka FC and Orlando Pirates at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 08 December 2018 © Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic praised his charges for not “losing their heads” as they fought back from a goal down to earn a point against Baroka at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Buccaneers needed three points to tie log-leaders, Bidvest Wits at the top of the log, but only went within two points, with defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns hot on their heels in third place.

This was thanks to an early setback, as Bakgakga drew first blood, in only the 13th minute, through an expertly taken free-kick by Matome Mabeba.

The early goal triggered a desperate scamper from the Soweto giants, who are yet to suffer a defeat at home this season, as they went in search for the equaliser – a search that proved fruitless until five minutes from the final whistle, when Vincent Pule headed in to great relief around Orlando Stadium.

Sredojevic – who brought in three forwards in the second half – said hee as pleased that the tactical moves paid off eventually.

“I’m happy that we did not lose our heads in the second half, when we made the tactical changes of bringing on Thembinkosi Lorch to be a third number-10 and leaving ‘Figo’ Mntambo alone in central midfield, and though it did not give us an immediate effect we still dominated.

“We then tried everything by putting [Thamsanqa] Gabuza and Kuda [Kudakwashe Mahachi] to go all-out attack, defending only with two defenders as we threw everything at them, and we got repaid with the equaliser. We tried our best to get the winning goal, but it was not meant to be.

“Credit to our players, for it was one of those days where you see in their eyes, faces and body language that they were giving everything on the field but still it was not enough to get what we wanted.”

Milutin Sredojevic

Orlando Pirates now turn their attention to cup action where they will face Black Leopards in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday before welcoming Esperance de Tunis in a Caf Champions League Group B clash seven days later.