Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was full of praise for the fightback displayed by his side as they equalised late to ensure a 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns in Saturday’s first leg of their MTN8 semifinal.
Kamogelo Sebelebele sprinted away from the Sundowns defence to equalise in the 87th minute after Tebeho Mokoena had headed the league champions into the lead from a 36th-minute corner.
The draw sees the two sides going into next Saturday’s second leg in Atteridgeville level with a place in the final at stake.
“We wanted to start the game with high intensity, putting pressure on this team of Mamelodi Sundowns, which we didn't succeed in doing in the first 15-20 minutes,” explained Ouaddou, who was under pressure coming into the match after Pirates lost the opening two matches of the Betway Premiership campaign.
“It was the target to put on the high pressure at the beginning. I think that my team was a bit shy.
“But step by step, we got in the game. We showed more shape with the lot of ambition, lot of aim to go forward and to get in the last third of the opponent, and I think that we created some chances in the first half,” he added.
“Unfortunately, we were not efficient, and again we, we had the misfortune to concede the goal at a set piece.
“But at the halftime, we decided to make some changes, some readjustments to bring some fresh blood. I think they did it. The guys reacted well, the impact players who came on brought something to the second half. I have to congratulate them because it's not easy to come back. They show the great character, great personality, and I was happy about the second half.
“I think that we could deserve maybe to score at the end of the game, but that’s football. Let's focus for the next game,” Ouaddou said.