Orlando Pirates win raises more questions than answers

Orlando Pirates edged out a narrow 1-0 win against Polokwane City, tightening their grip on a potential Caf Champions League spot. However, a blunt attacking display left their coach Jose Riveiro defending his team’s performance.

Orlando Pirates: A Difficult Tempo

The Pirates struggled to impose their usual tempo as Polokwane City deliberately slowed the game down. “Difficult one like I told you before the match,” remarked Riveiro.

“They managed to reduce the tempo in the first half. It was a slow game even in the beginning of the second half, delays, it was difficult to find continuity in our game.”

Difficult Chances Missed

Despite creating clear opportunities during the first half, Pirates proved wasteful in front of goal. “But I think we did good enough in the first half,” admitted Riveiro. “Clear chances to get the lead early but when you don’t do it it’s always difficult to deal with those tricky moments of the game.”

Orlando Pirates: A Difficult but Deserved Win

The attacking struggles persisted throughout the match, with Pirates even hitting the woodwork near the end. “But luckily we managed to score a goal in a set-piece,” Riveiro said.

“We should have gone to the last minute with [a two-goal] advantage but it’s not easy…But overall I think we did a good job and we managed to deserve the final result.”

The Difficulty of Attacking Low Blocks

Riveiro highlighted the challenges posed by Polokwane City’s defensive tactics. “It’s difficult when one of the teams seems like you need to get the initiative all the time,” he explained.

“It’s not as easy as sometimes we think it is…Finding the space in the box is difficult when they are defending low blocks…it’s difficult but most of the time we managed to get it and today we did it again.”

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