Abdeslam Ouaddou points out mistake that could have cost them against Polokwane City but Phuti Mohafe concedes 'we were struggling with Patrick Maswanganyi and Masindi Nemtajela'

Orlando Pirates jumped to third in the South African top-tier log with a laboured 1-0 win over Polokwane City on Wednesday night at the Orlando Stadium.

A sixth-minute strike by Tshepang Moremi was all the Buccaneers needed to take their points tally to 18 from the eight games played.

However, they missed a couple of chances that could have turned back to haunt them, according to coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. 

"Since the beginning of this match, our target was to score early and play with high intensity and pressure," he told the media.

"I think we dominated most of the game, but in the first half, we could've scored more goals, and because we didn't get the second goal, the opposition were always in the game, and in some instances, put us under pressure," Ouaddou concluded. 

Polokwane coach Phuti Mohafe concedes his team took time to settle before giving their best.

"I think we started very slowly, but as the game progressed, we started to gain confidence and started to play better," he said in his post-match interview.

"We were struggling with Maswanganyi and Nemtajela when they dropped deeper to collect, but once we neutralised the spaces in the second half, we looked a lot better," he concluded. 

The main task for Bucs will be at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday when Pirates welcome St Eloi Lupopo in the second leg of the CAF Champions League's second round outing.

Lupopo won the last meeting 3-0, explaining why it will be a hard task for them to get the needed result to advance.