Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has come to the defence of the Buccaneers attacking line after failing to score in the Carling Black Label Cup.
Pirates needed a penalty shootout to see off rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the semi-final of the one-day exhibition tournament and lost 4-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
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Asked on the Buccaneers struggles in front of goal, Riveiro defended his attacking line.
"The two games we played today were totally different," Riveiro said post-match.
"The first game, [although] I didn't have time to check the figures, I think we had most of the possession against a team that was playing a low block. So we had to take the initiative.
"We had to be the team that spends most of the time on the ball, but still we didn't manage to create so much to then evaluate the players you considered as strikers."
For their second clash of the day, Kabelo Dlamini and Eva Nga started upfront for Pirates, with Pule and Hotto on the wings. In the second half, Zakhele Lepasa replaced Pule while Evidence Makgopa replaced Nerverdie Makhubela.
"The second game it was a different story," Riveiro added.
"We knew that in this circumstances and especially against a team like Sundowns, that they would probably be the one that is dominating possession, especially with the ball. So the participation of our strikers in the second game was different. We asked different things from them."
"So my obligation is to evaluate the strikers in different circumstances, not only because we didn't score. The responsibility to score goals is for, not the keeper, but the rest of the team."
The Buccaneers will return to action on 31 December with an away clash against Sundowns.
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