Orlando Pirates secured their place in the Carling Knockout semifinals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night. Despite the win, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed clear dissatisfaction with his team’s inability to convert their dominance into a more decisive scoreline....Click to Read More >>➤

The Buccaneers controlled the match from the outset, creating numerous scoring opportunities in the first half. However, they found Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze in inspired form; his performance was later rewarded with the Man-of-the-Match award. The deadlock was finally broken after the break with a stunning strike from Tshepang Moremi. Substitute Evidence Makgopa then doubled the lead with a brilliant finish, seemingly putting the game to bed. A late consolation goal from Lehlogonolo Mokone for Magesi FC ensured a nervy finish.

Ouaddou Admits Pirates Should Have Killed the Game

In his post-match interview, Coach Ouaddou did not mince words about his team’s profligacy in front of goal. He acknowledged that the match should have been put beyond doubt long before the final whistle. The coach admitted that Pirates should have killed the game in the first half, pointing to a recurring issue the team must address.

“You are completely right, we should have killed that game at half-time,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV. “We should lead maybe three or four goals, and it’s a very nice saying that. Unfortunately, it’s an area we need to improve quickly if we want to be ambitious. Other than that, I want to congratulate the boys, it was not an easy game.”

He did credit Magesi FC for their resilient performance, noting the challenge such teams present. “All the time it is difficult against these kinds of teams, they are fighting. They have a very big fighting spirit. We played some nice football as well, I think our fans were very happy about that,” the Moroccan tactician added.

Displeasure with Late Game Showboating

A particular point of contention for Ouaddou was his team’s approach in the final 15 minutes. With the game still in the balance at 2-1, Pirates appeared to take their foot off the pedal, engaging in unnecessary showboating and short passes instead of pushing for a clinching third goal. This lack of clinical finishing and game management visibly frustrated the coach.

“I have to say I was not very happy with the last 15 minutes,” Ouaddou stated. “Instead of going forward and scoring the third goal, I think we made some short passes. I know the fans like that, and the players like that, but for me I don’t like that. I need to score more goals and we need to be more clinical. It’s very important for the confidence to score goals.”

Looking Ahead

The victory sets up a semifinal clash in the Carling Knockout, but the team must quickly shift its focus. The Buccaneers face a monumental task this Saturday as they travel to Loftus Versfeld Stadium to take on league rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in a Betway Premiership showdown. For Ouaddou, the message is clear: his squad must find a more ruthless edge in front of goal. The coach admits that Pirates should have killed the game early, and this urgency will be paramount against tougher opponents. Improving their clinical finishing is not just a preference but a necessity for the ambitious club.