Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has revealed why Kermit Erasmus was taken off after the first half against Venda Football Academy.
The Buccaneers needed extra-time to see off the Motsepe Foundation Championship side at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Erasmus got the opening goal for Pirates on his return to the starting line-up, but did not show up for the second half although Riveiro reveals it was injury enforced.
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"Kermit had a problem early in the first half, he tried to manage during the first 45 but it was too much," the Spaniard told SuperSport after the game.
"So we didn't want to make it worse and take any risks with him and that's why we substituted Kermit."
The Buccaneers head coach claims close cup games can help the team grow
"Well it's a cup game and what happened is one of the possibilities always. I think we managed the first-half quite okay in terms of control, even though we conceded a couple of actions where the opponent could capitalize," Riveiro said on SuperSport TV.
"But we were not at our level in the last minutes, we didn't understand so well how to deal with a low block, always with one extra pass and not really generous in our running to the space, exactly the same in the second-half.
"But in a different scenario, they start to press a bit higher and we didn't understand so well how to exploit those spaces behind and due to that, one mistake we concede the equaliser," he said.
"And then it becomes difficult because you get a bit nervous, no panic but you're in a hurry, you need a goal you don't want to go to the penalties because everything is possible there," he went on.
"But we try until the end, sometimes you need these type of games also in the seasons, these kind of difficulties to grow as a group, to understand that nothing comes easy. You really need to work hard.
"It's a topic but it's a topic because it's true and today was a good example about that. Congratulations to the opponent, fantastic performance, for the resistance and the way they tried to play here tonight.".
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