Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro gives context to win over Baroka

The Buccaneers returned to Orlando Stadium for the first time in more than a month and put on a show with striker Tshegofatso Mabasa scoring a hat-trick to send them through to the last eight.

Baroka did pull one back later, but their hosts had long put the encounter beyond their reach by then.

Riveiro says the victory is good for momentum.

"We are in the next round, that's the most important [thing], today. These games are never easy in the way to find the right mindset to approach the game, to spend more time in the rhythm that we used to play, today we were good in some little moments during the first half and not doing much, I think,” Riveiro said.

“We managed to get the lead and obviously getting an early goal, everything becomes much more easy, 2-0 at half time, a good advantage, definitive, a good beginning of the second half."

READ: Mabasa's hat-trick fires Orlando Pirates into Nedbank Cup quarter-finals

Pirates are going to need every player in the squad ahead of a busy schedule that also includes the CAF Champions League.

Riveiro explains why it was important to see some of the fringe players in action.

"Obviously, we used that 3-0 to rest some of our players like I explained in the post-match interview as well to give some time to the players who are not frequently playing and try to get more people involved to the last part of the season,” he added.

“It's normal that we didn't finish the game very well organised because like I said, many subs and introductions in the last 30 minutes. Like I said in the beginning, overall, I think it's a good thing that we are in the next round, that was the main objective for today.

“Only two possible results in the knockout games and obviously we got the one that we were looking for."