A controversial end to the game, as Pirates beat Arrows 3-1 to walk away with the 3 points. A game that was filled with intensity on and off the field of play. Pirates and Arrows had chances in either half, but Pirates proved to be strong at the end.
Coach Jose Riveiro had rectified his team’s fortune against Arrows. In the first half, Pirates found themselves on the back foot as Arrows made things difficult for them. Coach Jose Riveiro admits his side made to change things in the second half.
“A very complicated game, we did not start the way we wanted, and we needed to find the reasons why and we managed Arrows a bit for 20-25 minutes in the first half. I have a feeling that we could have had much control over the goal and therefore what they did at the beginning of the game, pressing us very high and aggressively.
“They paid the bill for their high pressing intensity in the first half. We changed to 4-3-3. It was an ugly win but an emotional and a lucky end,” said coach Riveiro in his post-match interview.
Pirates had lost the previous three games and their game against Arrows was a must-win game for coach Jose Riveiro. Monnapule Saleng answered the prays of the Pirates fans, as he displayed an outstanding performance. Saleng netted the equalizing goal, and this was his third goal against Arrows. He scored a brace against the same opponent, where the Sea Robbers prevailed 2-0, in the first round of the league back in October last year.
The officiating in the game was controversial, as assistant Arrows coach Mabhuti Khanyeza rushed on the pitch at the end of the game to complain about the officiating to the referee. Pirates second goal came after a foul was committed on Makhubela. Coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi shared his thoughts on the officiating in the game.
“This is my very first time ever since I have been in the coaching industry to complain about the match officials. An honest mistake was done by the referee when Makhubela was fouled and that resulted in a goal. I spoke to the ref personally after the game and he even accepted that. It’s unfortunate because if Pirates have to redeem themselves, that should not happen at our expense.
“We are here to compete; we are here to fight, and this is our job, and some other people should not play with our jobs,” coach Vilakazi said in his post-match interview.
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