'I think you're dramatic!' Jose Riveiro adamant Orlando Pirates are still in PSL race despite Sekhukhune United loss, as Eric Tinkler advises Kaizer Chiefs how to win Soweto derbies

Orlando Pirates suffered a 1-0 loss in the Premier Soccer League game against Sekhukhune United on Wednesday night at Orlando Stadium.

The lone goal of the match came in the 52nd minute after Tresor Tshibwabwa headed in Keletso Makgalwa's corner.

The hosts were then forced to end the game with 10 players following captain Nkosinathi Sibisi's sending off.

“It was a game before the goal and a game after the goal, perhaps,” Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro said in his post-match interview.

“Game under control, I think the game was close for us, it looked like the goal was coming, and in a corner kick, in a situation that should be under control, they managed to get the lead.

“After that, we didn’t react well. We were disorganised with many ideas. Maybe I’m wrong, but the keeper only made one save in the first half, we didn’t manage to have shots on target, or not [they were not] enough. That’s why the 1-0.

“I think the game was coming for us before the goal, but after the goal, we didn’t play well enough to deserve the equaliser."

Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler has revealed how his team managed to stop the Soweto giants from hurting them.

“But like I said in the first half, we gave them too many opportunities, and my concern at halftime was that when you give a team of their quality many opportunities, you're going to get punished," said Tinkler.

“But I think we fixed it in the second half, and the opportunities were far and few between, you know, they had greater opportunities.

“There was one that went wide of the post from Evidence Makgopa, there was one that they missed, yes, from a cross into the box. But ultimately, a much better performance from us defensively in the first half, not so. I mean in the second half, not so much the first half."

Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Richards Bay 3-0 to open a 12-point lead at the top of the table. Despite that, Riveiro believes his team can still catch the defending champions.

“I think you are too dramatic," the Bucs coach responded when asked whether the race is over.

"We just lost one game. We have to recover in a couple of days. We have a derby on Saturday [against Kaizer Chiefs], we have to be ready. There is no other way.”

“If I am confident? Imagine if I say no. I have to be confident, of course, I think these players, this team, the whole season gives everybody reasons to be confident.”

“The fact that we lost one game today is not going to make us not feel proud of what we are doing together, and this team, for sure, on Saturday, they will be back.”

Pirates have now conceded four straight goals from set-pieces. Tinkler might have just told Kaizer Chiefs how to get past their old rivals in the forthcoming back-to-back Soweto derbies.

“We made it more difficult for them, we managed to catch them on a few transition moments, we spoke about how important the set-pieces are against them because we found that obviously watching them in the Caf competitions was a weakness and we ended up getting a goal from a set-piece," the Babina Noko tactician added.

“And I said the longer the game goes, the greater the chance we have, especially from a set-piece, to win it, and I thought the second half performance from the boys really, really good. Just felt sometimes we got to be a little bit better on the ball and try to keep possession because having to chase for 90 minutes is not an easy task,” he concluded.

Sekhukhune United are just two points away from the second position and can fancy their chances of beating Pirates to the position.

The Soweto giants need to get their act together and win the PSL and Nedbank Cup's Soweto derbies.