Head coach Jose Riveiro has dissected the difference between his side's hot-and-cold league performances and the ruthless precision in knockout competitions as Orlando Pirates bulldozed past AmaZulu in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup.
The Buccaneers booked their tickets to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup with a 4-2 beating of Usuthu at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Pirates’ goals came from Makhehlene Makhaula, Kabelo Dlamini and a brace from Patrick Maswanganyi. Pule Ekstein and Taariq Fielies scored for AmaZulu.
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It’s the second straight season that the Sea Robbers are in the semi-finals of the cup competition and are well on track to defend their Nedbank Cup title.
Should the Buccaneers go all the way, it will be a fourth trophy for Riveiro, who has already lifted the MTN8 title back-to-back.
The impressive form has raised question marks of Bucs’ hot and cold league form, where the Soweto giants have won just two of their last five matches.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Riveiro went into detail about why his side excels in cup competitions.
"I think again these games are slightly – well not slightly no- there is a big difference, in my opinion, in these games because it’s today or never, in my opinion. It’s not even a cup tournament where you play two legs," Riveiro said.
"We will [either] have a good day today or we are out, so there is no room to relax.
"In the cup usually to start the game with this [high] rhythm, succeeding or not, capitalising or not and in the league sometimes it’s not like that.
"I think we as a group, in the recent games, finally found a way to get rid of one of the obstacles that we faced last season and at the beginning of the season, which was scoring in the first half.
"Today we were close to going to half-time without a goal but in recent games, we have been scoring early and that’s making the games much more open.
"So if the approach of the opponent is defence, what people call a low block, then it's different to see the pace that you can see when you score early.
?? FT || @AmaZuluFootball 2 - 4 @orlandopirates
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) April 13, 2024
?? 45' (P), 90' Maswanganyi
?? 58' Dlamini
?? 82' Makhaula
?? Man of the Match & Goalscorer | Patrick Maswanganyi
?????#Matchday #NedbankCup#OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/7Dc3iosvPm
"What we created in the early minutes of the game [against AmaZulu] was more than enough to get the lead. I think our performance in the half-time was not a 1-1 performance, honestly.
"I think we are comfortable with these scenarios, these knockout games. Last season probably gave us a lot of confidence to continue this season in the same mood, that we feel strong.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch defeated SuperSport United to book a spot in the semi-final, as did Mamelodi Sundowns who battled past the University of Pretoria (AmaTuks).
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