Orlando Pirates managed to scrape past Sekhukhune United at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A first-half goal from Deon Hotto was enough to give the Buccaneers a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final.
Pirates will now return to Orlando Amstel Arena with a slender advantage and will be favourites to reach yet another final.
However, despite the important win, there were still a few areas of concern for the Buccaneers.
Here are five things Orlando Pirates will need to address:
- Sebelebele’s defending
Mike Mamosha often leaves gaps when he pushes forward, and on several occasions he was caught out of position against Sekhukhune.
His defensive ability has already come under scrutiny. Against AmaZulu, he conceded a penalty after being caught out, highlighting an area Pirates may need to address.
- Lack of creativity in midfield
With Patrick Tito Maswanganyi having left the club, Pirates no longer have the same creative spark in midfield.
That could become a major problem as the season progresses. Against Sekhukhune, the Buccaneers often looked flat and struggled to find solutions when they had possession.
They will need someone to step up and provide the creativity that Maswanganyi previously offered.
Orlando Pirates need to replace TITO ASAP
- Pedersen needs to improve
Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen finally made his debut, but his performance did little to suggest that he will immediately solve Pirates’ goalscoring problems.
He had a golden opportunity to open his account but fired wide. Aside from that chance, he struggled to make a significant impact in the final third.
Orlando Pirates will need much more from their new striker, particularly with a demanding season ahead.
- Mbatha is needed
Camren Dansin has impressed since breaking into the team, but the youngster is still a work in progress.
With the Buccaneers competing on multiple fronts, the experience and quality of players such as Thalente Mbatha and Makhehlene Makhaula will be important.
This will be especially true in CAF matches, where Pirates will need experienced midfielders capable of controlling difficult games.
- No super subs
In the matches they played, there has never been a match winner from the bench and new signings are not giving Ouaddou a lot to work with.
Orlando Pirates have made a strong start to the campaign, but Saturday’s victory also showed that there are still areas that need improvement.
With the MTN8 final now within touching distance, the Buccaneers will hope to fix those weaknesses before the second leg.
