Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says his team lost the Nedbank Cup final because they could not cope with the physicality of Kaizer Chiefs.
Pirates went down 2-1 to bitter rivals Chiefs in the latest installment of the Soweto Derby when the Glamour Boys scored after 10 minutes through a Gaston Sirino penalty before winning it via Yusuf Maart’s 80th minute strike in between a 17th minute goal from Evidence Makgopa.
It denied Pirates a third straight Nedbank Cup trophy with Riveiro missing out on a chance to leave the club in triumphant fashion and the Spanish tactician says his team could not manage to win ugly.
Riveiro not impressed by ‘ugly’ Nedbank Cup final
“It was an ugly final from the beginning until the end, not so much football, it was more of a physical battle and they were better than us in the last part of the game,” Riveiro told SABC.
“Before the goal, they had a couple of warnings that the goal could be close and they managed to put one more in the net and took the game.”
Riveiro feels the approach from both teams was not different from last weekend when they beat Chiefs 2-1 in a league match at FNB Stadium.
What else is there for Pirates to contest?
“Nothing special I think it was a similar game to the one played at FNB but with less quality and today, congratulations this one is for them,” he added.
It was an ugly football game, not so much football so it is too early to analyze, sorry for our team and fans we could not win one more final but we will be back.”
Pirates will now turn their focus to the PSL match against Golden Arrows next Tuesday but they look set to end the season with just one trophy as Mamelodi Sundowns are closing in on the PSL crown.
