Snl24 | Home & dry | Bad omen for cup king Riveiro?

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 21: Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro during the MTN8 semi final press conference at PSL Headquarters on September 21, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro could be facing his toughest semi-final duel since winning the MTN8 twice, with statistics not in his favour ahead of the second leg against Cape Town City.

Riveiro has made a name for himself in the country after winning the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup titles for two consecutive seasons.

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For the MTN8, in particular, they have had the upper hand in away semi-finals under the Spaniard, where they scored at least two goals in the past two campaigns they have won the title.

The Buccaneers were strong away in their semi-final second-leg encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns, after thrashing them 3-0 in 2022.

They also crucially scored two away goals last season in their away semi-final leg against Stellenbosch FC, in a 2-1 victory where Patrick Maswanganyi ran the show at Athlone Stadium.

However, in both those semi-finals in the last two seasons, Pirates have not scored at home, after a goalless draw against Sundowns in the first leg and a 1-0 defeat to Stellies in the second leg, in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Although a goalless draw would suit them on Saturday against the Citizens, following the 1-1 draw in Cape Town, the side’s ex-striker Katlego Mashego feels they are susceptible to conceding.

“The one thing I saw [in the first leg], I don’t know if it’s something that’s gonna happen the whole season for Pirates, but they look like they are going to concede hey,” Mashego said on Metro FM Sports.

“They look like it’s a team that’s about to concede. After the 1-0 [lead], Cape Town City had two glorious chances, those are two goals and already they are 2-1 down. But luckily, [Sipho] Chaine was there.

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“I just feel like they are not as strong as one would believe, because for a team like Pirates, with the way they play and attack, when they defend, they should be a bit solid. But I’m yet to be convinced by the way they defend. I feel like Pirates is a team that looks like they are going to concede.”

Another interesting stat is that in both the semi-final away legs in the last two campaigns, Pirates won those matches outright. After Wednesday’s stalemate against City, could it be the end of Riveiro’s MTN8 cup-winning streak?