Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro praised the players after the draw with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates came back from a goal down to force a 1-1 draw against the Brazilians at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.
The Buccaneers had Miguel Timm sent off early in the second stanza and conceded with 15 minutes to go after Marcelo Allende broke the deadlock for the Brazilians.
READ | Sundowns held by ten-man Pirates at Loftus
However, the Soweto giants had a lifeline soon after that, as they were awarded a penalty that was converted by Tapelo Xoki.
"Credit to the players, after the break coming to the game like this and performing the way they did, running, fighting, grabbing the game-plan, really strong in the first half," Riveiro said on SuperSport TV.
"With a different scenario in the second half, with one man down but I think apart from crosses, one or two set-pieces, I think we managed to contain them very well, I don't remember any saves from our goalkeeper. So it talks a lot about the defensive job that we (did) in the second-half.
"We had a different front today, a different organization upfront and I think it worked very well, it was about details, small things in the last third and we didn't manage to get the lead in the first-half but I think we were superior.
"It's a pity we couldn't complete 90 minutes with 11 (players) and see what happens in the last part of the game, where we're pound for pound but overall I think we can only congratulate the boys, the coaching staff, they did a fantastic job in this four weeks, we came here prepared to fight for the three points and I think we did it."
The Spanish mentor hailed Pirates' response, in getting the equaliser just after they conceded.
"That's a very sensible moment because you can have the feeling it's done, one-man down 15 minutes to play, against Sundowns. The risk is if you don't continue trusting, you'll probably get one or two more. We still hoped, trusted and I think the result is fair," he added.
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