orlando pirates

Josef Zinnbauer coach of Orlando Pirates urges his side on. Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates were ‘disadvantaged’ by Makola red card – Zinnbauer

Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer believes his side were ‘disadvantaged’ by having an extra man against Cape Town City

orlando pirates

Josef Zinnbauer coach of Orlando Pirates urges his side on. Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer believes the sending off of Cape Town City midfielder Mpho Makola had an adverse effect on his side during their loss to the Citizens.

Orlando Pirates dropped points for the sixth consecutive game after going down 1-0 to Cape Town City at the Loftus Versfeld stadium courtesy of a Kermit Erasmus header on the stroke of halftime on Sunday afternoon.

Cape Town City were reduced to 10-men after Mpho Makola received his marching orders against his former club however, despite having the advantage of an extra man on the field of player for over an hour, Zinnbauer believes the red card was Orlando Pirates’ downfall.

Red card was the turning point for Orlando Pirates – Zinnbauer

Makola received two yellow cards in the space of less than 30 minutes to leave Cape Town City down to 10-man for the remainder of the game however Zinnbauer has shared his rather peculiar assessment of the supposed advantage Orlando Pirates had.

“We got one or two chances, we could have scored. We didn’t score then, but the big point for me was the red card. Normally you have the advantage but for us in this instance it was not an advantage.” Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV.

“It’s always easy to say it is an advantage but in the field it is the other way and this was the point for us today we did not come into the game and then in the second half we fought, we penetrated in the box a lot of times but we did not score.

“If you do not score then it’s not possible to win the game. When you have an opponent with one goal up and you have zero and then you just stay deep you are defending very good.”

City defended well – Zinnbauer

Orlando Pirates registered 13 shots at goal while also bossing the possession with 63% as opposed to City’s 37% however despite their dominance, the Buccaneers could not find a way to penetrate the Cape side’s defence.

“I have to say the opponent defended very well. It’s a structure in their system and it’s not so easy to find a solution. I cannot say Orlando Pirates played badly, but it is football. All guys against 10 or nine players you have to win but we know football, it is football.” Zinnbauer added.

“Normally you score one, you get into the penalty box then you score then maybe you get the next and the next, but you have no time you play against time. Compliment to the other team they had a good game today.”

Orlando Pirates next turn their attention to fellow top three candidates SuperSport United who they host at the Ellis Park stadium on Saturday afternoon in a crucial PSL clash.