Jose Riveiro deflated after Orlando Pirates drop points again

Jose Riveiro deflated after Orlando Pirates drop points again

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro cut a frustrated figure at Dobsonville Stadium after his side once again dropped points following a 1-1 draw away to Moroka Swallows.

It’s The Buccaneers’ second match without a win in the DStv Premiership since last month's FIFA break, with this result hurting the race for CAF Champions League qualification next season. 

REPORT: Pirates and Swallows share spoils in Soweto Derby

Riveiro felt his charges struggled to kick into gear, having trailed in the first half when Lindokuhle Mtshali gave Swallows the lead before Patrick Maswanganyi levelled matters early in the second half. 

"In a very unlucky situation we concede a goal, and after that we were a little bit in a hurry, looking for the equaliser in a bit of a rush," said the Spaniard.

"But I think in the second half, we started well again, we equalised and controlled the game, and maybe in the last 15 minutes, we were a little bit disorganised and lost a bit of our structure. But that's normal as well [when you are] trying to look for one more goal."

With defender Nkosinathi Sibisi sent off at the death, Riveiro’s overall assessment was that his charges gave a good display. 

"We couldn't make it [to score the winner], I think we did it a couple of times, but it was disallowed by the official, so in the end it's 1-1. I think it was a really good performance of Pirates players tonight," he concluded.

His counterpart Musa Nyatama believes the early goal derailed Swallows from their original game plan as they then dropped too deep in defence.

"We didn't play our game, we just wanted to sit back and watch them play. But it's something we need to learn from and take the game to them," he said.

"We might have scored an early goal, which I think put us under pressure, where we had to sit back and allow them to attack us. But we'll take the point, there's nothing we can do."

READ MORE: Stellenbosch cement second spot with victory over Kaizer Chiefs