After Orlando Pirates' smash-and-grab 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final, KickOff looks at how Jose Riveiro got the better of Rulani Mokwena.
Notably, this was Bucs' second cup final win over The Brazilians this season, having done the business, albeit via a penalty shootout, in the MTN8 last year.
1. Dealing with Modiba
Sundowns usually overload their left side of attack or midfield with Aubrey Modiba, but Jose Riveiro starting Monnapule Saleng on the right wing was a tactical ploy to keep 'Postman' pinned back and not join the attack as he is used.
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Although Modiba almost opened the scoring very early in the game, he did not threaten much going forward, as the presence and danger of Saleng, breaking away, kept him occupied, as The Brazilians don't really play with a winger to help him defend.
2. Make Sundowns tired
Riveiro made a big call to drop probably two of Pirates' most dangerous players in Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng to the bench.
The main reason for that strategy was to wear Sundowns down, as Evidence Makgopa and Innocent Maela were recalled instead.
The Buccaneers had 31 percent of possession at full-time and although the side normally competes fairly with the Tshwane giants in terms of possession, the Spaniard was aware Downs had played too many games this season and the more the game stretched and was on the edge, the more Pirates were going to get an upper hand.
3. Ace up the sleeve
Riveiro showed why he has become a cup specialist for Pirates. One lesson that he offered to other coaches is that you don't have to play all your cards in the starting line-up in a cup match.
With the plan of making Sundowns tired, the 'Spanish Guitar' also wanted Mabasa and Mofokeng to impact the game off the bench, something that caught Sundowns, who had no impact players coming on, by surprise.
4. Take Mokoena out of the game
One of the main reasons Makgopa started ahead of Mabasa was because of his chasing game. Riveiro was seemingly not concerned with his striker occupying the space with Sundowns' centre-backs.
However, Bucs' coach assigned Mabasa, together with Patrick Maswanganyi, to nullify Mokoena, who is usually key to most of The Brazilians' attacks.
It speaks to this tactic that Mokoena and Makgopa were both quiet for their respective teams and 'Tebza' only started to come into the game after the former Baroka FC striker was replaced by Mabasa, who had a different task of engaging Sundowns' centre-backs.
5. Mudau trap
Riveiro starting with both Maela and Deon Hotto on the left was another tactic to force Sundowns to play through the centre and not engage them on the wings (as they also had a plan to keep Modiba in check).
Although Rulani Mokwena was clever to make Lucas Ribeiro Costa to attack that wing along with Khuliso Mudau, as the Brazilian created the opener by Themba Zwane from that channel.
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Mudau obviously carrying an injury and Costa getting injured and going out gave Riveiro an opportunity to exploit the right-back's overlaps, as he took out Maela and brought on Mofokeng in the last 20 minutes.
Mudau, carrying a shoulder injury, heavily strapped, was no longer tracking back in the closing stages (with Thapelo Morena, who replaced Costa also playing high up) and that exploited the Brazilians' right channel as it left a big hole that was occupied and exploited by Mofokeng on transitions.
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