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Tuesday, November 5, 2024

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Orlando Pirates’ Jose Riveiro left scratching his head after 31 shots at goal in Magesi FC defeat

FILE - Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says his team didn’t make use of their chances against Magesi FC in their Carling Kncokout Cup last-16 match. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP

FILE - Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says his team didn’t make use of their chances against Magesi FC in their Carling Kncokout Cup last-16 match. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP

Published Oct 20, 2024

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Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro bemoaned his team’s lack of cutting edge in the first half after suffering a shock 3-2 Carling Knockout Cup defeat against Magesi FC on Saturday.

Pirates’ players looked like they were still hungover from their MTN8 title-winning celebrations after they were left punch-drunk by the Magesi in the first half at Orlando Stadium.

The newly promoted side, playing in their first ever Carling Knockout Cup match, went into the break 3-0 up after making the most of the few attacking opportunities they had. Pirates hit back with two second-half goals, and and a third one disallowed after the assistant referee had correctly raised his flag for offsides.

Pirates has an incredible 31 shots at goal, of which eight were on target. Magesi, on the other hand, had just six shots on goal, with three of them on target.

“I’d say we had quite a good 30 minutes in the first half, we go on into the game and controlling the rhythm of the match with several opportunities, clear opportunities inside this period, even after the cooling break we kept playing the game in areas we wanted to,” Riveiro said.

“I think we created quite a lot, we hit the post three times in the second half if I’m not wrong, we scored the first goal, but it was obviously too late after 86 minutes, one more goal made it 3-2 … we were close, really close to equalise but not possible.

“Football is a scoring game, we can speak about the 30 attempts at goal and the three shots of the opponent, but they won 3-2, so congratulations to Magesi, they are in the next round and we are not, that’s all.”

Meanwhile, Magesi’s coach Clinton Larson was humble in victory, saying that Pirates were definitely the better team on the day despite his team’s clinical display in front of goal.

However, he praised his team’s organisation and for carrying out the gameplan “to perfection” that they had come up with in the build up to the match.

“As expected, a very difficult game today against a quality team, I thought in the first half, our game plan was executed to perfection,” Larsen said.

“We wanted to remain compact; we knew that opportunities would arise from that, with the turnovers from possession and the space left in behind.

“We deservedly took the lead, what was important for us today was to be clinical, and I thought that’s exactly what we were, we took our chances very well and my fear was always that when you poke the bear, you must be careful what comes.

“Credit must go to them for not giving up and dominating us the way they did, but it was always expected against one of the in-form teams in the league. I thought my young team today, six players with less than 10 top-flight experiences, I thought they were exceptional.

“So, credit to the club, credit to the players, the hard work they put in the hour, was rewarded with a historical day for the club, the first encounter against Orlando Pirates, and coming out with a victory is a step in the right direction for Magesi Football Club.”

@JohnGoliath82

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orlando piratescarling knockout cupmtn8pslsoccer