DURBAN – Orlando Pirates bounced back to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after beating Royal AM 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday night.
Reeling from a disappointing defeat to Chippa United at the weekend, Pirates made four changes to the starting eleven.
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro recalled Deon Hotto, Miguel Timm, Kabelo Dlamini and Bienvenu Eva Nga while Royal AM gave goalkeeper Xola Ngcobo his first start in their colours.
Pirates had a tricky start in the game but came to life a short while and had Hotto fire down the left flank as he worked an opening from a tight angle but failed to convert.
After a series of raids, the Buccaneers surged ahead in the 34th minute when the electric Deon Kavendji combined with Thabiso Monyane’s delivery from the right and finished off superbly.
The second half had nothing meaningful as the match swung from one end to the other. Royal AM had to contend with Shadrack Kobedi being dismissed for a second bookable offence with a few minutes remaining to the end.
Reacting to the victory, Riveiro said there were “plenty of positives” from their win over Royal AM.
“Very good 60 minutes from us, plenty of positive things, very professional performance here tonight. I liked our defensive work today, it was incredible.
“Not happy with the way we did when we recovered the ball, we should have spent more time keeping possession in the second half and not suffer so much.
“But even though we were defending a bit lower than what we want I don’t remember any single clear chance of a very good team like Royal AM,” Riveiro said on SuperSport TV.
