Photo Courtesy Orlando Pirates.
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riviero has admitted that the third goal for champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the 4-1 thrashing put the Betway Premiership game beyond their reach on Saturday.
In the top-of-the-table fixture at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, the Brazilian had a perfect first half, getting an early goal through Grant Kekana, before Lucas Ribeiro made it 2-0 in the 27th minute.
Ribeiro scored his brace in the second half, while Teboho Mokoena sealed the game with a beautiful goal, leaving the Buccaneers with no chance of a comeback.
“We’re disappointed with the result obviously,” Riveiro told SuperSport TV. “It was difficult to find ourselves today in this environment. In both phases in attacking and defending we were not comfortable at all in the first half.
“Two accidents put the game in a difficult place for us with 2-0, we tried in the second half to get close, and I think we managed to be better than Sundowns in the second period.
“After the 2-1 I think the game was more close to us than to them but they managed to find the net in the first occasion. From that moment the game was far from us.”
The win was a huge morale booster for Sundowns in the race for the league title, while it was a blow for the Soweto-based club. After 15 matches, the Brazilians sit at the summit of the table with 42 points, while Pirates are in second place with 33 points.
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