Orlando Pirates coach and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine are still wary of the threat MC Alger pose in their CAF Champions League quarter-final after securing first leg advantage.
Pirates got a vital 1-0 win away in Algiers on Tuesday thanks to Mohau Nkota’s 65th minute goal but that came after Chaine had pulled off a number of saves to keep them in the game.
The Soweto giants were on the backfoot for most of the first half with poor finishing from the hosts, coupled with some good defending and Chaine’s heroics saving them the blushes.
Now, heading into the second leg, Riveiro wants his team to avoid a repeat of that first-half performance and complete the job.
Riveiro relieved to get away win
“They managed to really suffocate us, especially in the first 45 minutes it was difficult to get some real football in our half and we defended very well, limiting their best options to finalise their action and forcing them in certain areas where they are not that strong,” said Riveiro.
“Second half we tried to be a little more ourselves and finding more football in our side and knowing that still we will be forced to suffer a lot but luckily, we worked hard to find that transition to get the lead.
“We managed to get the lead 1-0 and in the last 15 minutes, we managed to consolidate the result. They had a couple of crosses. They overload the last line with four players but overall, two different approaches and proper first leg of a quarter-final
“We have a return match in Orlando. Anything is possible. It's a good way to start the quarter-final. In Orlando, we have 90 minutes to play, and football is unpredictable. Hopefully, we can surpass them again.”
His goalkeeper also conceded it was a tough outing but hopes to benefit from home comforts at Orlando Stadium next week.
What is Sipho Chaine promising?
“It was not an easy game. We came here in the group phase against CRB [CR Belouizdad] in very difficult conditions playing in North Africa, we know how tough they are, how resilient they are in front of their home fans,” Chaine said after the match.
“It is a privilege to come here and win again like we did in the group stage. We are only halfway there as Orlando Pirates and the only thing we can do is focus on the next 90 minutes we have in Johannesburg.
“It is not going to be easy but we have to stick together as a team, work hard and good things come to people who work hard and stay together.”
Pirates will host MC Alger in the return leg on Wednesday April 9 but first, they will need to get past Polokwane City in a league match on Saturday.
