18 Sep 2023

Jwaneng Galaxy players deserve to be applauded for their 1-0 nil win against Orlando Pirates. 

Galaxy coach Morena Ramoreboli his players who beat the South African giant in a CAF Champions League game at the National Stadium on Sunday had made Botswana proud.  

“I am happy that they executed the game plan well, and it could have been more than one-nil but we will carry the lead into the next game,” he said. 

He also said it was necessary that they did not play an open game, which he said could have opened them to attacks as Pirates were good in playing into spaces. 

“It was important to deny them to play the way they would have wanted to. We started our game playing from the back and each time we did that we had a positive transition into the midfield and into the last third, which is positive when you play an organised team like Pirates,” he said.  Ramoreboli also complained about Benson Mangolo’s second half goal, which was ruled offside. 

“For me it was a clear goal, but it’s football and we will have to live with the decision,” he said. 

He also said having been in this stage before, Galaxy were well aware of the pressure that came with playing away, and that they would give their all in the return leg. 

On the other hand Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro said the result was not what they expected although he admitted that playing away in such games was always a difficult outing. 

He also decried what he said was their poor approach to the game.  “This is a cup game and it required a level of aggressiveness, and we were not aggressive enough like Galaxy were, although we created a few chances in the second half,” he said. 

He said they would have to work on their precision in the return leg to be able to convert every chance they could get. E

Even though many expected them to start the game on a high tempo as the home team, Galaxy started a bit cautious with little pressure on Pirates’ defense and sat back too often. 

Despite their cautious approach, Lesagaripa la Dinaledi managed to grab a vital goal in the 20^th minute through Daniel Msendami after he received a long haul cross on the blind spot from Kutlwelo Mpolokang on the left wing.  

The attack came from a quick transition after Galaxy had just defended a Pirates corner. 

Though Galaxy stretched the lead in the second half when Mangolo beat Pirates keeper, Richard Ofori at the near post, the goal was controversially flagged for offside. 

The two teams will meet in the second leg on September 30. Ends