Orlando Pirates hard working player and his coach. Image: Star shared via X
(The Post News)- Jose Riveiro has an incredible record in domestic cup tournaments. Since joining Orlando Pirates at the beginning of the 2022–23 season, he has guided the team to three consecutive MTN8 deciders and five elimination finals in six attempts.
With his team defeating Cape Town City 3-1 on aggregate to get to the final, the Spanish coach is attempting to guide Pirates to an incredible third MTN8 trophy in a row, a feat never accomplished by any club before. Next month, they will face Stellenbosch FC in the championship game.
His only loss came in the Carling Knockout last season, when they lost to Richards Bay in the first round on penalties despite the game being officially declared a draw in the record books. He has also won back-to-back Nedbank Cup victories.
Since joining the Premier Soccer League, Riveiro has only lost one of his 23 cup matches hands-down, and even that ultimately proved insignificant. Last season, Pirates lost 1-0 to Stellenbosch FC in the second leg of their MTN8 semifinal; nonetheless, they advanced from the tie on the basis of away goals after winning 2-1 away in the first game.
Out of his 23 cup matches, Riveiro has won 17, drawn five, and lost only one. In that time, they have scored 49 goals and given up just 13. Another noteworthy achievement of pirates. In four of those twenty-three games, they have faced Sundowns and have kept them scoreless in all but one.
Better yet, they have emerged victorious from every encounter, including the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup finals. Riveiro appears to be getting more out of his side over time, which is concerning for opponents.
While they had trouble defeating opponents early in his tenure, their scoring rate is rising, and they have been much more dominant this season than they were the previous.
In the MTN8 quarterfinals, they defeated SuperSport United 3-1, and in the semifinals, they defeated Cape Town City 3-1 overall. Even if Sundowns easily win the league, Pirates now have another final to look forward to because they are clearly the current cup kings in the local game.
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