Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou admitted that they wanted a first-leg win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-finals on Saturday.
The Buccaneers rallied from a goal down to scrape a 1-1 draw with new signing Kamogelo Sebelebele coming up with the equaliser late on as the return-leg takes place next Saturday.
Read: Pirates rescue a draw against Sundowns
Nonetheless, the football displayed at a sold-out Orlando Stadium pleased the Moroccan-born mentor and credited the character of his players in bouncing back.
“I think it was a great game from both teams, we tried both teams to give some good football, nice football with intensity. I think it’s what the fans are expecting from such game. On our side, we can maybe be disappointment about the result because we wanted to win of course,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV.
“We conceded (from) a set-piece, but I have to congratulate the players about the energy, character they have, personality to come back and to equalise so let’s say it’s the first half, there’s the second half there - everything will be decided the next game. We still have the opportunity to qualify, but it was a good game."
The former Marumo Gallants tactician was pleased with the fight from his charges, especially in the second period.
“Yes, of course I think the content today was interesting – we showed some character, strength from our boys which was aimed to play forward to create chances but in football you know sometimes it’s not easy because the result has to match the performance,” Ouaddou said.
“At the moment, the result is not matching with the performance first of all, let’s hope that in the future we will take result and everything will be around. I should praise fans to be patient, I know it’s not the way in big clubs, but I hope they will be patient with us.
Photo by Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images