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Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has praised his players for being clinical following a polished performance crowned by thrashing Golden Arrows 7-1 in a DStv Premiership clash on Saturday evening.
It’s the highest winning margin for The Buccaneers this season, which boosts their hopes for second place and gives them confidence going into the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals away to AmaZulu next weekend.
Riveiro says they were in a “good mood”.
"We were accurate today [Saturday], early in the game we managed to get a big advantage before half time. In the second half obviously, they have nothing to lose, they have to try something to get an early goal and when you leave those spaces and we are in a good mood to continue playing fast football, well it can happen that in the end the score is heavy," Riveiro said.
The Spanish mentor argued the outcome was the momentum carried from the midweek fixture against Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows, even though it ended 1-1.
But this time Pirates were ruthless, with striker Tshegofatso Mabasa getting a hattrick to become the league’s joint top marksman with 10 goals.
"Like I said the first half was not that big difference between the two teams maybe in the second half, yes but it's also influenced by the score. I think it was a good game, good entertainment, I think it's continuity of the guys' performance on Wednesday against Swallows but today with more luck in front of the goal and well-deserved result," Riveiro added.
Riveiro gave Arrows credit for not sitting back, although they were severely punished in the end for playing expansive football.
"It was a fast beginning of the game that we liked, same as three days ago, quite equal at the beginning of the game with both teams showing the way that they wanted to create danger and opportunities in different ways. I said already after the match the score is heavy but it's also due to Arrows being brave and trying to play football."
