Orlando Pirates survive MC Alger battle to reach CAF Champions League semi-finals

MIHLALI BALEKA at Orlando Stadium

Jose Riveiro is the conductor of his own orchestra as he continues to produce sweet melodies in his last dance at Orlando Pirates.

The outgoing Pirates coach guided his team to the CAF Champions League semi-finals after beating MC Alger 1-0 on aggregate on Wednesday night.

Riveiro’s men did most of the job away in the first leg, after winning 1-0 courtesy of a Mohau Nkota goal, and finished it off with a goalless draw at a buzzing Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.

Pirates will face Pyramids in the semi-final – a feat that they’ve reached for the first time since losing as finalists in 2013.

It’s fast becoming a fairy-tale end to Riveiro’s stint after he announced he’ll not be renewing his three-year contract at the end of the season.

Riveiro might not only win the African crown for the first time in 30 years, but the title in 15 years and third successive Nedbank Cup. He’s already won the MTN8 this season.

The Ghost had longed for days and nights like these where they’d be in full voice, cheering their own coaches and players in the biggest event on the continent.

On Wednesday night, those dreams were realised as they were the fuel behind the Sea Robbers, who cruised into the steady waters of the semi-finals.

It wasn’t always love at first between The Ghost and the team as they were hardly convinced that Riveiro was the right man to steer their demanding ship.

But the Spaniard churned out some sweet melodies from the Spanish guitar with five trophies in two-and-a-half seasons that turned his detractors into admirers.

And since, the two become one after the team and fans formed an unwavering bond, both parties have vowed to make Riveiro’s last days memorable.

Riveiro is also doing his best to make an enduring mark, so much so that he cut an animated figure against MC Alger as he barked instructions non-stop.

His troops, just like they’ve been over the years, heeded them. They were disciplined in defence, protecting goalkeeper Sipho Chaine from all sorts of danger

The livewire of the Pirates’ defence earlier on was Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who showed vast maturity to keep the stocky Algerian strikers at bay.

Mbokazi is one of the youngsters – which include Relebohile Mofokeng and Nkota – that perhaps wouldn’t be playing at this level right now were it not for Riveiro.

The coach has always stressed that the youngsters will not be at full strength at all times. And so, when Mbokazi was found wanting, Nkosinathi Sibisi was there to cover for him.

Riveiro will be the first to admit that he didn’t always get it right. But the unity and camaraderie he brought to this Pirates team is undeniable.

Pirates were not always on the back foot here. They had had their good moments, including when Deon Hotto tested the waters first with a curling effort that sailed wide.

Makhleni Makhaula was his usual self in the midfield – the big brother who did the dirty work and cleaned up so that his young siblings can shine.

Thalente Mbatha, as a result, played with such freedom as he mesmerised Algeria’s midfield, leaving his markers to eat dust before unleashing brilliant passes.

Nkota, the recipient of those passes, did his best to make the most of it with square balls, but there was no one to finish them off in Alger’s box.

Pirates’ improvement under Riveiro this season include being able to manage the game – not dropping the tempo in the second half or protecting the advantage.

As such, Riveiro’s men started the second like a team possessed as they took the game to the visitors, directing the traffic with Mofokeng.

The visitors felt the wrath of the Ghost and Pirates, so much so that the Ultras started to resort to physical altercations, something that triggered the home crowd to back their team even more.

A cacophony of noise filled up this venue, with the Ghost in full voice while they lit up flares of all sorts, giving the Ultras a taste of their own medicine later on.

The Bucs, with the backing of their 12th man, did their best to hold on – the Spaniard's team marching on to the semis, and writing another chapter.