Orlando Pirates head coach José Riveiro has admitted that his team fell short in their attempt to claw back into the match during a gritty and emotionally charged Nedbank Cup final, which saw arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs secure a 2-1 victory at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Amakhosi took a 10th minute lead at the FNB Stadium through a 10th minute Gaston Sirino penalty as Pirates right-back Deano Van Rooyen was adjudged to have brought down Pule Mmodi inside the area.
Read: Kaizer Chiefs end 10-Year Trophy with Dramatic Nedbank Cup Triumph
Evidence Makgopa then levelled in the 17th minute with a powerful header from a pin-point Dean Hotto free-kick. However, despite creating several half-chances and maintaining sustained pressure in the second half, the Buccaneers were unable to breach Chiefs’ backline again.
The decisive moment came in the 80th minute when Chiefs midfielder Yusuf Maart latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the area and rifled a volley into the net, sealing a dramatic win for Amakhosi and ending their 10-year trophy drought.
For Chiefs’ it was a first trophy in 10 years, and speaking after the game, Riveiro admitted that unlike in last week’s Soweto derby win, his side was unable to come from behind to win.
Riveiro also voiced his frustration over what he believed was a missed penalty decision in the second half, when Relebohile Mofokeng appeared to be brought down inside the box.
The Spaniard told SuperSport: “It was an ugly match, there was not so much football from both sides. We were fighting the elements, and the game was affected quite heavily by the penalty.
“We had to come back again. And we managed to do it.
“In the first half we were territorially superior, we only had some problems with Mmodi, everything else was under control.
“We had an opportunity to score a second, with one action of Rele in the box. But we were not rewarded with a penalty.”
Riveiro added: “In the second half the game was even more ugly, more physical, with more interruptions. In the last 20 minutes both sides with substitutes made the game a bit more open. And in that moment they scored the second goal. It was impossible for us to generate enough in the last ten minutes.”
“Congratulations to Chiefs for the trophy, and that’s it,” concluded the departing Bucs boss, who guided his side to two previous Nedbank Cup titles.