Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro predicted another exciting clash after his side drew 1-1 at Cape Town City on Wednesday in the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal in a game played at a frenetic pace.
Pirates were ahead after 15 minutes through teenager Relebogile Mofokeng but Jayden Rhodes’ deflected shot in the 61st minute brought the teams level.
The finish. 😮💨
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The celebration. 🥶
The goal scorers so far🔥 #MTN8 #WafaWafa pic.twitter.com/scsblRhDeo
“It was tough game with, I think, Pirates having the initiative early in the first half and taking the lead. It's true that we had a couple of mistakes that forced a couple of good saves from (Sipho) Chaine in the first half.
“But we could also have double the lead. It was a different second half with Cape Town City throwing everything forward in order to equalise and in that period, we were not at our best. We were not ourselves,” said the Pirates coach.
“It was difficult to spend time on the ball, very difficult. They were pressing very, very high and aggressive, and it was difficult to control the ball. It was very bumpy field, extremely bumpy. And we have problems to get out of the Cape Town City structure.
“We tried, later, with (Evidence) Makgopa and with Gilberto, to have a little bit more capacity to hold onto the ball. And I think we managed to do it, but that was also due to the fatigue of the opponent as well.
“They had an extremely high rhythm from 45th to 65th minutes. And in the end, they paid a little bit for that extra rhythm. And we managed to spend more time in their half, having couple of opportunities with Deon (Hotto) on the left that could have given us goal. But 1-1 , we played now the second leg in Jo’burg on Saturday and I think it's going to be a very exciting game,” Riveiro predicted.