Pirates coach defends decision to substitute Lorch in Soweto Derby defeat
“We had to readjust because of the red card of Inno [Maela]."
Orlando Pirates assistant coach Sergio Almenara has explained the reasons behind the decision to substitute Thembinkosi Lorch in the Soweto Derby on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates fans were visibly annoyed with the club’s two assistant coaches Almenara and Mandla Ncikazi over the change and numerical disadvantage in the DStv Premiership clash.
Almenara, who was calling the shots during the Soweto Derby alongside Ncikazi, said Lorch’s substitution was a tactical switch as it took place shortly after Pirates were reduced to 10-man when captain Innocent Maela was sent off 15 minutes into the second half.
Maela, as the last line of the Pirates’ back-four, took one for the team as he tackled Kaizer Chiefs attacker Cristian Saile, who was through on goal.
The defender that replaced Thembinkosi Lorch in the 65th minute of the game, Olisa Ndah, proved to be Bucs’ demise as he scored an own goal to hand Chiefs a 1-0 victory at FNB Stadium.
It was Chiefs’ fifth successive win in the Soweto Derby.
Almenara didn’t think the decision to bring on Ndah for Lorch, which was met with a smattering of boos by the Pirates fans was strange.
PIRATES ASSISTANT COACH EXPLAINS LORCH DECISION
“We had to readjust because of the red card of Inno [Maela],” said Almenara, who was addressing the media in the absence of suspended coach Jose Riveiro.
“We needed a centre back and fresh legs, so we were going to spend more time in the low block, so we needed players who would be able to run into the space.
“Unfortunately, we were one-man down, and we made some changes in order to try to get some advantage for the low block and counter-attack with fast players and players who can find the spaces behind the backline of the opponent, then came the own goal.”
Lorch, who was arguably the best player for Pirates against Chiefs, recently returned to action after almost five months on the sidelines due to injury.
In the current season, the highly-rated attacker has made seven appearances in all competition with one goal to his name.
“We are trying to find a perfect fit for our squad and the players to fit in the game plan, and we thought that we would manage and win the game,” added Almenara.
“It was not our best performance, just like in the first round game, we tried to fight the situation with one-man down, and I think if we had 11 players, we could at least get a point.”
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