Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro says everything remains possible in their quarter-final against MC Alger but heaped praise over his squad’s resilience after their win in Algiers.
Pirates managed to hold on after a fiery performance from the home side, who by their own admission of their head coach Khaled Ben Yahia ‘suffocated’ the Soweto giants with relentless high-pressing.
- ALSO READ: Khanye Hails Pirates Starlet As Future Captain & Bafana Potential
- Pirates Secure Big Win In Algiers
But Riveiro’s side managed to keep composure, hold firm in defence with their new-look back-three and found the winner with a transition, as Relebohile Mofokeng set up second half substitute Mohau Nkota for the only goal of the first leg quarter-final at the Stade du 5 Juliet.
“It’s the game we expected in terms of energy and level of aggression that the opponent was going to develop in the game, playing at home in front of a full stadium in a quarter-final, with the full crowd and an incredible atmosphere in the stadium,” he said.
“They managed to really suffocate us in the first half, it was difficult for us to get some football in their half, but we defended very well, limiting their best options to finalise their actions and forcing them to go into areas where they are not that strong.
“Second half we tried to be a little more ourselves, finding more football in their half, we were forced to suffer a lot, but we worked hard to find that transition to get the lead, we found it, 1-0 and the last 15 minutes we tried to consolidate the result.
“They had a couple of crosses, they overloaded the last line with four players in the last part of the game, but I think overall, two different approaches. A proper first leg quarter-final, well played for both teams with different intentions.
“But this is just the first 90 minutes of this round, we have to play the second half in Orlando – everything is possible, it’s still open, we know we have to play a good game at home and try to make this result a good result for us.”
Pirates will now host the Algerian Ligue 1 champions in Orlando next week on Wednesday at Orlando Stadium (18h00).
