JOHANNESBURG- Orlando Pirates bounced back with a 2-0 victory against Ajax Capet Town in the Nedbank Cup. As coach Milutin Sredojevic made six changes to the team.
“We have worked very hard with‚ in seven days‚ three competitive matches‚ going to Rustenburg (to beat Platinum Stars 2-0)‚ going to Cape Town (where Bucs were shocked 3-0 by Ajax)‚ then playing that game against Maritzburg‚ the hardest-running team in the league‚” Sredojevic said.
“We paid an expensive bill because some of the players have been out – Thabiso Kutumela sick‚ Nyatama suspended.
“The rest of the changes‚ like Siyabonga Mpontshane (in at goalkeeper for Jackson Mabokgwane)‚ were planned for the cup.
“It was a risk. A risk that paid us off in the end.
“It was not easy to play against a team that put 10 players behind the ball‚ looking for the counterattack.
“But we believed in our model‚ and that even the hardest stone‚ once you are insisting‚ you can crack.
“We looked for that throughpass‚ and it happened in the first half at the right time‚ opening them with a great football action (for Bernard Morrison’s opener).
“This also from a wonderful football action with the throughpass by Lorch to Morrison‚ and him finishing in a cool way.
The next game up for Pirates is against Chippa United on the 25th of February in PSL.
Photo Credit- iOL
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