Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro credits his players following their 1-1 draw against log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership.

The Brazilians were forced to share the spoils with Pirates after playing out to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

An 80th-minute penalty by Thapelo Xoki cancelled out Marcelo Allende’s 76th-minute opener as Sundowns played out to their second draw in the league.

The draw sees Pirates remain in fifth place on the log with 26 points from 17 matches, while Sundowns remain at the top of the table with 39 points from 16 games.

Riveiro says he was proud of his side’s performance after handing Sundowns only their second draw of the DStv Premiership season.

“Credit to the players, after the break coming to the game like this and performing the way they did, running, fighting, grabbing the game-plan, really strong in the first-half,” Riveiro told SuperSport TV after the game.

“With a different scenario in the second-half, with one-man down but I think apart from crosses, one or two set-pieces, I think we managed to contain them very well, I don’t remember any saves from our goalkeeper. So it talks a lot about the defensive job that we (did) in the second-half.

“We had a different front today, a different organisation upfront and I think it worked very well, it was about details, small things in the last third and we didn’t manage to get the lead in the first-half but I think we were superior,” he added.

“It’s a pity we couldn’t complete 90 minutes with 11 (players) and see what happens in the last part of the game, where we’re pound for pound but overall I think we can only congratulate the boys.

“The coaching staff, they did a fantastic job in this four weeks, we came here prepared to fight for the three points and I think we did it.”

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