Magesi head coach Clinton Larsen has suggested that Orlando Pirates were unlucky in their defeat in their last-16 Carling Knockout clash on Saturday afternoon.
The newly promoted side, in their debut top-flight domestic cup competition inflicted the first defeat on Pirates in the 2024/25 season after 12 games in all competitions.
Having raced into a 3-0 lead going into the break after goals from Delano Abrahams, Thabiso Sesane’s own goal and Edmore Chirambandare with their inexperienced side in cloud nine.
Pirates made a late assault for a comeback with Kabelo Dlamini and Evidence Makgopa finding the net late on before dramatic scenes with Mohau Nkota having a last-minute goal ruled out, correctly, for off-side.
“As expected, a very difficult game today against a quality team, I thought in the first half, our game plan was executed to perfection,” Larsen said.
“We wanted to remain compact; we knew that opportunities would arise from that, with the turnovers from possession and the space left in behind.
“We deservedly took the lead, what was important for us today was to be clinical, and I thought that’s exactly what we were, we took our chances very well and my fear was always that when you poke the bear, you must be careful what comes.
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“That is exactly what happened in the second half, we started off, we could’ve made it 4-0 early in the second half with Makone, but we didn’t and exactly what I warned them at halftime, happened.
“Pirates got a goal, the crowd got behind them and then it was backs against the wall stuff, it’s how it panned out, I told the coach after the game, the better team lost today, we worked very hard, we were structured and organised and, in the end, we just about held on from the onslaught of Orlando Pirates.
“Credit must go to them for not giving up and dominating us the way they did, but it was always expected against one of the in-form teams in the league. I thought my young team today, six players with less than 10 top-flight experiences, I thought they were exceptional.
“So, credit to the club, credit to the players, the hard work they put in the hour, was rewarded with a historical day for the club, the first encounter against Orlando Pirates, and coming out with a victory is a step in the right direction for Magesi Football Club.”
The Limpopo-based side joined Stellenbosch in the quarterfinals of the cup competition after Steve Barker’s troops beat AmaZulu 2-1 after extra time on Friday evening.