Golden Arrows coach Clinton Larsen has credited Orlando Pirates’ performance following his side’s 2-1 defeat against the Soweto giants in the Telkom Knockout Cup.

The 45-year-old says he didn’t know what to expect playing against an underperforming Pirates side, but credited their performance on the day.

‘It’s never easy playing against an underperforming Pirates knowing full well that they could find their form at any moment, and so they did,’ Larsen told the Golden Arrows website.

‘Not having Nonyane and Lamola available did upset our rhythm slightly but we still managed to put in a credible display. Credit must go to our opponents who played very well on the day. We are proud of our players who went toe to toe with Pirates.’

Larsen says he is taking plenty of positives out of the match as they prepare to take on Maritzburg United in the Absa Premiership on Friday.

‘We were well in the game right until the end and were caught on the counter a few times, which was expected as we were chasing for an equaliser. There are many positives to take from this performance as we now prepare for Maritzburg United,’ he added.

‘We would also like to thank our supporters who turned up at Orlando Stadium. Thank you for your loyal support.’

The match at Harry Gwala Stadium kicks off at 20:00.