Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro hailed his charges for a solid display in the 2-1 win over league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
It was the Buccaneers' first win in the league over the Brazilians and also the club's first since January 2020, reducing the lead at the top to 15-points.
The start to the game where a quick-fire double from starlet Relebohile Mofokeng set the tone and saw them ahead for once against the fearsome Brazilians.
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"Well executed, it's so difficult to play against Sundowns trust me they are so good. We start the very well, getting the lead we want to be in advantage finally going one against them and be us the one leading the game," Riveiro told SuperSport TV.
"Getting the double lead, it was something else obviously with a storming beginning from the boys, they really trust what we were doing on the field and the consequences. Excellent performance obviously, suffering a little bit in the second period.
"But not much, we managed to contain them usually in areas we are not close to defend to Chaine but congratulations to the players because they managed to show who they are when they are in the right space."
Defending deep particularly in the second half was visible in the Buccaneers approach, but it was difficult to carry out given the quality of the opposition.
"Ideally, you don't want to sit that deep but again we are playing an opponent all the time in this case the ones in yellow is an excellent team, there's quality everywhere.
"They have the capacity to create chances in the central lane, they have the capacity to generate advantage quick in the lateral corridors so you try to stop them on one side but immediately they find a gap on the other side. So, it was difficult to defend against them today obviously we would like to defend a little bit higher but what else," Riveiro explained.
Riveiro also touched on the mentality in the team and added this victory proves that it's not in any trouble and they are still winning week in and week out.
"The mentality is fine; it's been fine all the time. It's not about when the people question us or whether people have doubts. We're still in the same we were when we were winning games week in and week out.
"We don't change much, we know why we sometimes don't get the result we try to correct it and we move, that's football. That's life there's no time to you know that kind of reflection. We're an optimistic team, we try to be positive, we try to better sometimes and yes this is the prove," he said.