Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro admits their win over SuperSport United was a six-pointer and predicts a thrilling end to the season will take place in the battle for CAF Champions League qualification.
Pirates secured a narrow 1-0 win over SuperSport at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening with a late Tapelo Xoki penalty securing three points and moving them two behind Matsatsansa.
Meanwhile, Chiefs secured three wins from three in the DStv Premiership to remain level on points with their Soweto rivals after their 3-2 win over Maritzburg United.
With seven games remaining, City, who finished as league runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns last season has a slim chance with a nine-point gap over Gavin Hunt’s side – while Richards Bay in the sixth place trail by eight points with a game in hand.
“As I said during the week, when we don’t play against SuperSport and we get three points, the day after, we are checking our apps and checking if they can drop some points or we can get closer [to second spot],” Riveiro said after the game.
“Today we had the opportunity to do the job ourselves, to make sure our opponents are not collecting points, we did it.
“I think the game somehow, looks more than a league game, I don’t want to say like a final because it’s not, they still in advantage, they are still ahead of us [on the table], and they’re not going to give anything [away] for free.
“So it’s going to be a difficult fight until the end, we have to obviously capitalise on these three points because it’s much more than three points, the confidence, the trust in general, it’s going to be good but yeah – still 21 points to play for and I can guarantee SuperSport is going to fight until the end and the ones coming from behind have their [opporunities].
“It’s going to be nice, the last three, four games of the season is going to be really exciting for all of us.”
The Buccaneers face the Natal Rich Boyz and Chippa United next in the league after the upcoming FIFA International break.
