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Orlando Pirates dropped to position four on the Premier Soccer League table following <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/linda-mntambo-breaks-orlando-pirates-hearts-as-sekhukhune-united-dent-soweto-giants-caf-champions-league-ambitions/bltf4fe0b9c9255c96d" target="_blank">Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Sekhukhune United </a>at Peter Mokaba Stadium.It was a result that dented their bid for a top-two finish as the race for a Caf Champions League spot heats up.GOAL brings you the reaction of the Buccaneers' coach Jose Riveiro as well as Babina Noko's captain Linda Mntambo.<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Jose Riveiro slams Orlando Pirates players' attitude and risking against Sekhukhune United as Mntambo credits Babina Noko's quick forwards

Riveiro feels they had chances to make things right but his men could not capitalise on the opportunities."We played well after the goal, we played very shy before the goal, I think that's the summary of the game,” said Riveiro as per <a href="https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/local/premiership/orlando-pirates/jose-riveiro-questions-orlando-pirates-attitude-20240330" target="_blank">Soccer Laduma.</a>“Lots of doubt in the build-up, in the first 30 minutes. Even though there were a hell of spaces and opportunities for us, we couldn't, we were not in the right space to do it.“We conceded one goal and then the game became different after that, we were not shy anymore and I think we generated a lot of football today to get a reward but it was impossible," he said."We did a lot of touches in the last 30 minutes of the match and we're going [home] with zero [points]."

Bucs failed to utilise 'a hell of spaces and opportunities'

The Spaniard feels his players risked it and they were punished for that in moments of the game they should have been more cautious."It's not because of the names on the field, it's because of the attitude," said Riveiro."[You are] 1-0 down, you have nothing to lose and you start to play with a little bit more risk but we need to assume those risks early in the game when we're nil-nil because that's our intention when we're coming to the games."And today we just gave too much to Sekhukhune in the beginning to feel comfortable with their game plan and that's why we're going out of this game with zero points," the Buccaneers coach concluded.

Riveiro questions his players' attitude

The victory over Pirates was Sekhukhune's fifth successive PSL win for the first time in their history.Mntambo explains how they tactically arranged themselves and it worked well for them.“Now it’s five wins in a row, and we keep going, going at training to push harder and focus on the next game, it’s just a collective win," Mntambo said as per <a href="https://www.snl24.com/kickoff/sanews/premiership/sekhukhune-united/linda-mntambo-hails-lehlohonolo-seemas-tactics-after-beating-orlando-pirates-20240331" target="_blank">KickOff.</a>“When the coach came in midweek and he said ‘I’m going to play you as a false striker, I’m going to change the whole structure and play you as a false 9, do you believe me?’“I said ‘Coach, oh well the team comes first, I’m there to play the role’ and look at what it did for us today, I got an assist and a goal,” he said.“It was never going to be an easy fixture against Orlando Pirates. We stuck to the instructions the coach gave us."

Five straight wins as Babina Noko tactically outwitted Bucs

Pirates had what looked like a makeshift central defence with Olisa Ndah and Thabiso Sesane starting before Sandile Mthethwa later on came in.That set-up struggled to cope with the home side's pacy attackers.“We knew we were going to suffer at some point, we had to defend, keep shifting and keep the block and the balls were going to come because we are a team that also plays on the transition," the Babina Noko skipper added.“We have got quick forwards and we knew that if we keep patient and press upfront a goal was going to come and with a transition, we managed to score two goals.”

Sekhukhune's quick forwards destroyed Pirates 

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/psl-transfer-news-latest-rumours-from-kaizer-chiefs-orlando-pirates-mamelodi-sundowns-and-all-psl-teams/blt7abceaf4eeb183c9">PSL transfer news</a><a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/done-deals-confirmed-transfers-by-psl-clubs-in-2023-south-african-winter-transfer-window/bltad28b3b89ea4dce8">PSL Done Deals</a><a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/premier-soccer-league/yv73ms6v1995b5wny16jcfi3">PSL page</a><a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/team/orlando-pirates/asatsyoargv5n2y7o04swilai">Pirates team page</a>

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Jose Riveiro slams Orlando Pirates players' attitude and risking against Sekhukhune United as Mntambo credits Babina Noko's quick forwards | Goal.com

The Buccaneers suffered their first defeat of 2024 when they were edged by Babina Noko in Limpopo