Minor details give Pirates edge over Sekhukhune – Paulus Masehe

Babina Noko suffered back-to-back defeats to the Buccaneers – a narrow 1-0 loss in the MTN8 semifinal first leg at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, followed by a 2-0 Betway Premiership loss at the Orlando Amstel Arena. 

Masehe expects Pirates to approach Saturday’s second leg cup tie similarly but insists Sekhukhune must raise their intensity and execute better if they are to overturn the deficit and keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.

"Playing against Orlando Pirates doesn't change. They won't change how they play because they don't adapt to anyone. They were clinical today in converting the half-chances they got, and then that became a problem," said Masehe.

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"Our game plan went wonderfully well. We expected to ensure that we got in and around them, and we created chances from that. I think it's more about just being clinical in the final third; that is the missing puzzle to how we play, because the performance from Saturday and the performance from today are a bit different for us, and it shows that at least the guys have developed the confidence to take the game to Pirates."

Masehe sees Pirates as an open book even if coach Abdeslam Ouaddou makes wholesale changes on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, in the other semifinal Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Golden Arrows also eager to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Coach Miguel Cardoso believes it will be another test of character.

Cardoso is determined to see Downs produce a performance that reminds critics they are the African champions.

"People forget very quickly because there was a loss in one match. Let's see if we are strong enough to go to Arrows and give the game we need to, let's see. It will happen but let's see. Let's see if we are capable enough it's a good test for the moment."