De Sa wants perfect end

Coach Roger de Sa remains hopeful Orlando Pirates can defend their league title, but he insists they must take maximum points from their six remaining fixtures.

Pirates were arguably the better side over the 90 minutes on Wednesday night, but had to settle for a share of the spoils after a 2-2 draw against Absa Premiership strugglers Ajax Cape Town.

The Buccaneers were left in third place in the standings, narrowly behind Platinum Stars on goal difference. Both sides held a game in hand over Kaizer Chiefs, who were seven points clear at the top of the log.

"I thought we were a bit fortunate," De Sa said.

"We rode our luck and we got back into the game, going 2-1 up.

"We didn't control the game after that. We should have kept pressing on but we took our foot off a little bit."

While his side had strung together a winless run of six successive league matches, De Sa was pleased to draw level on points with Stars.

"At the end of the day it's a point, although it could have been three if we had taken our chances."

A full bag in their last six league matches was crucial, De Sa believed, if they were to lift the title for the third straight season.

"There are six games to go and we have to try and win every one, fight it out as much as we can and hopefully we get all the points that we need," he said.

"That's all we can do. We can't worry about everybody else."

Meanwhile, Ajax coach Jan Versleijen was relieved to hold Bucs, and while his side climbed three points clear of the relegation zone, he was disappointed after the hosts squandered several good chances in the last five minutes.

"You would think before the game that if you get a two-all against Pirates, one of the better teams, you should be happy, but we should have scored five or six," Versleijen said.

"And I don't exaggerate, we created a lot of chances, we played quite well in the final third, but we should have capitalised."

Pirates will play their next league match on Wednesday, 17 April.

That is when they will meet Free State Stars at Charles Mopeli Stadium.

Kickoff is at 19h30.

Amazulu will host Bloemfontein Celtic this coming Wednesday, while Maritzburg United and Golden Arrows will contest a KZN derby at Harry Gwala Stadium.

Sapa and Andre Bloem

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

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