Rhulani Mokwena, coach of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, on 28 August 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates: Mokwena bemoans missed chances in TKO victory
Orlando Pirates squandered a number of chances before eventually beating Stellenbosch FC to book a spot in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals.
Rhulani Mokwena, coach of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, on 28 August 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Despite a dominant performance, Orlando Pirates had to wait until the dying moments of their Telkom first-round clash against Stellenbosch FC to find a cause to celebrate, with many chances squandered throughout the 90 minutes.
A late Thembinkosi Lorch goal saw the Buccaneers through to the quarterfinals, as they registered a 1-0 win over the top-flight newcomers.
Orlando Pirates misfire on their way to TKO quarterfinal
This was after toiling for most of the contest, with the likes of Augustine Mulenga, Vincent Pule and Fortune Makaringe all getting close to breaking the deadlock, but to no avail.
Speaking after the match, coach Rhulani Mokwena was happy to keep a clean sheet, but noted the many chances that fell to his charges.
“I’m trying to collect my thoughts because, how many chances (did we create) in the first half? I stopped counting at seven. It should have been seven or eight, but the fans were unbelievable today,” Mokwena told SuperSport.
“The fans pushed us, really, really pushed us. If it wasn’t for the 12th man today, I don’t think we would’ve had that extra motivation to go beyond but again credit to these soldiers – Orlando Pirates players.
“They leave everything on the pitch, they leave everything on the pitch. This is the same story, we create so many chances week in and week out but today at least we keep a clean sheet and I’m very happy about that.”
Rhulani Mokwena
A change in cup fortunes
The result was Pirates’ first victory in a cup competition this season, following early elimination in the MTN8 and the Caf Champions League.
It was also their first clean sheet since a goalless draw against Golden Arrows in August. The last three matches prior to Saturday’s game have seen the Buccaneers concede a staggering eight goals.
This has seen them struggle to climb up the league standings, where they sit in eighth place after starting the season as one of the favourites to lift the title.
Pirates have another date with Stellenbosch, as they travel to Cape Town on Saturday, 26 October.
