Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has hailed the impact of Monnapule Saleng after their narrow win over AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership.
Pirates climbed up to second in the standings after edging ten-man Usuthu 1-0 thanks to a late goal by Tshegofatso Mabasa.
After the KwaZulu-Natal side were reduced to ten men midway into the first stanza, the Buccaneers initially struggled to create chances before eventually finding the winner 15 minutes before time.
READ | Mabasa fires Pirates up to second spot
"A very tough one, it was a big fight, 11 against 11, I think we didn't start so well. AmaZulu looked more comfortable on the field. It was a 50/50 game at that time," Riveiro told SuperSport after
"Then it was difficult with ten men. I would rather play against 11 than ten to be honest, because it's much more complicated to find the spaces, to have continuity, interruptions are coming, obviously the opponent needs to stop the rhythm and I think they did a fantastic job I have to say.
"It was a long period with only ten players and they managed to create some chances so credit to the opponent but credit (also) to the guys, it's not easy to find a way to win the games week in and week out," he said.
"We are working on it, I think today if I say we deserve it I'm not lying even though it was not a brilliant game but a victory, we take the three points, very important for our objectives."
Pirates started to have more threat after they brought on Monnapule Saleng, who created the goal scored by Mabasa and later Karim Kimvuidi to control the game.
Riveiro admitted that the substitutions of Saleng and Kimvuidi were key.
"In these circumstances against the low block, we had to be calm, we were rushing a little bit. But I think Saleng, Karim, they gave us a little bit more threat in one v ones, second line running, things you need to beat the low block," the Spanish coach went on.
"I think the presence of Saleng, Thalente (Mbatha) looking for the first pass forward when we steal the ball, they were quite aggressive in attack and they left some spaces in transitions and that for me was the key in the last 25-30 minutes. So well done to the guys, those who started and those who finished, we're a team," he said.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!
