Info sourced from Orlando Pirates website
- April 19, 2025
Orlando Pirates will have it all to play for in the deciding leg of their CAF Champions League semifinal against Egyptian outfit Pyramids after playing to a goalless draw in the opening leg played at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
It was a frustrating evening endured by the Soweto Giants who would have welcomed some distance between themselves and the North Africans midway through the tie. The result in Soweto amplified the importance of their upcoming trip to Cairo, with all possibilities still open in the race to secure spots in the final.
Returning to the Calabash for another important clash, Pirates were quick to control possession in the opening exchanges. There was not much to show for their early dominance despite a few promising moments where they entered the Pyramids penalty area without truly threatening the goal.
The first few goal attempts they could muster came from some distance out as Thalente Mbatha forced a save from Ahmed El Shenawy with a long-range effort in the 11th minute. Patrick Maswanganyi followed suit moments later, managing to direct his shot past the shot-stopper onto the upright.
Mostafa Fathi had the first real opportunity for the visitors, but met an alert Sipho Chaine who scurried off his line to pull out an important stop in the 20th minute. That seemed to inspire the Egyptians into action as they grew into the contest halfway through the first half.
The Buccaneers were forced into more defensive work as the halftime whistle approached, not helped by a bit of disjointedness at times. It looked as if they would head into the break trailing when Fiston Mayele volleyed past Chaine, but the goal was overturned after VAR revealed that he had drifted offside prior to receiving the ball.
Having been let off the hook, the hosts set about looking to find the breakthrough in the second half. Just as was the case in the first, clear-cut opportunities were not forthcoming as they continued to struggle for rhythm.
Maswanganyi looked to spark something just before the hour mark, doing well to work himself into space outside the box only for his shot to meet a deflection that directed it out for a corner. The set piece however presented an opportunity for the visitors who launched a quick counter to leave Deano van Rooyen in a desperate scramble inside his own half before pulling out a superb tackle to keep things level.
The experienced pair Makhehleni Makhaula and Deon Hotto each had attempts at goal as the clock wound down, but neither player could produce the breakthrough. Shots were flying in at the other end as well, with Ibrahim Toure volleying narrowly wide with a long-range attempt of his own.
Just as they ended the first half, the Egyptians managed to place the ball in the back of the net in the final moments of the second period. This was when Walid El Karti nodded in from close range. However, the celebrations were cut short as the referee consulted VAR once more, with replays showing that the ball had been handled before trickling over the line.
Relebohile Mofokeng had his last-gasp effort deflected out in injury time, summing up an evening of frustration for the Soweto Giants. They keep their unbeaten record in the ongoing competition, and now shift focus to the deciding leg taking place in less than a week.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Mbatha (Ndlondlo 90+3’), Makhaula, Nkota (Dlamini 78’), Mofokeng, Makgopa (Mabasa 61’).
