Sunday’s 1-0 Premiership loss to Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium in Johannesburg prompted Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro to bemoan his team’s inability to close out games.
After two victories against Royal AM in the league and the MTN8 in KZN, it was anticipated that the Pirates would continue their winning ways in the province.
A penalty from Amadou Soukouna resulted in a loss for the Pirates, who remained third in the standings.
Pirates were the superior team, particularly in the second half, as they created scoring opportunities that were either missed or blocked by Maritzburg’s defense.
Riveiro praised Maritzburg’s defense after the loss, which was his second in eight matches, for keeping them scoreless on the night.
“I believe the Pirates created more scoring opportunities than the opponent, particularly in the second half. However, we did not play with sufficient depth,” stated Riveiro.
“In our attack, we encountered some difficulty navigating the lateral roads and corridors. In addition, they controlled the positioning of our strikers in the midfield.
“When they stole the ball, and played behind our defence, there was some risk. It was, however, under control. In the second half, only one team remained.
“However, we were unable to capitalize on the opportunities we provided. We were unlucky. You will ultimately have your own conclusions about what occurred.”
Riveiro believes that the referee made a mistake by awarding Maritzburg a penalty after Olisa Ndah barely made contact with Siboniso Conco in the penalty area.
“Clearly not. “That was not a punishment,” Riveiro stated of the incident.