Pirates coach Jose Riveiro argues Sundowns game was balanced

Riveiro found it difficult to accept that his side could not break the resolute Mamelodi Sundowns defense despite, in his view, being equally matched…at least in the first half.

The Brazilians stretched their incredible run of form in the DStv Premiership to seven wins in a row by beating their Soweto rivals 2-0 at Loftus Stadium with goals in either half from defender Mothobi Mvala and striker Cassius Mailula.

Mvala was voted Man of the Match. 

“It’s hard to accept that we did not score. From my point of view, it was 50/50 in the beginning, trying to figure each other out. And there were little problems in the first few minutes, but from there I think the offensive phase was totally under control,” Riveiro explained after the match.  

“We didn’t feel so much threat – we played quite close to the game we wanted. We can say that [Ronwen] Williams [Downs goalkeeper] was one of the main guys for them in the first half.

"The scenario changed in the second half, and they were much better and very comfortable on the ball. We couldn’t keep the ball in the same areas like we managed in the second half.

"We tried everything in order to get close, to get one point. But it was impossible. They defended very well.”

Pirates next face Cape Town City in a week's time.