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Pirates Claim Top Spot After Overcoming Al Ahly

  • January 18, 2025
  • 3 min read
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Pirates Claim Top Spot After Overcoming Al Ahly

Orlando Pirates secured the top spot in Group C following their 2-1 win against Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday, thanks to goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshegofatso Mabasa.

Jose Riveiro made three changes to the side that defeated Algerian giants CR Belouizdad 2-1 in their last outing on home soil last weekend, with Thabiso Lebitso, Paseka Mako, and Evidence Makgopa earning starting berths in place of Deano Van Rooyen, Mohau Nkota and Tshegofatso Mabasa.

The visitors threatened to draw first blood in the second minute when playmaker Patrick Maswanganyi found Mofokeng with a defense-splitting pass, but the 20-year-old chose to roll the ball over to Deon Hotto, who didn’t connect with it on time.

From a corner that resulted from Thabiso Sesane’s intervention, Al Ahly came close, however, Wessam Abou Ali headed his effort across the goal in the 15th minute. Marawan Attia sent an inviting cross into the box, but Sipho Chaine was able to thwart the threat two minutes later.

The Bucs’ shot-stopper was once again tested at the half-hour mark as in-form Ashour unleashed a long-range shot which was caught in practice for Chaine. The two sides couldn’t be separated in the first half as it was goalless.

Riveiro’s charges broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute after the Egyptian giants failed to deal with Thalente Mbatha’s ball into the box, allowing Mofokeng to pounce on the error. Pirates were forced into an early substitute as Siyabonga Ndlozi replaced the injured Lebitso.

Looking for a quick response, Ashour connected with Abou Ali, who couldn’t beat Chaine from close range three minutes later. Marcel Koller introduced Hussein El Shahat, Akram Tawfik, and Mohamed Hany as they kept searching for an equalizer.

Koller’s tactical acumen paid off as Tawfik’s outside-the-boot pass found El Shahat, who chipped the Pirates goalkeeper Chaine to level matters in the 69th minute. Chaine was once again called into action a minute after the leveler, but he was equal to the task.

There were penalty shouts in the Pirates’ box after Mako clattered into Abou Ali, but the referee was not keen. Riveiro freshened up his side with the introduction of Kabelo Dlamini and Selaelo Rasebotja in place of Maswanganyi and Mbatha.

Signaling their intent to clinch maximum points, the Sea Robbers brought on Mabasa and Gilberto for Makgopa and Hotto. The Soweto giants reaped the rewards of their last subs as all three players combined as Mabasa’s header came off the crossbar and overline to make it 2-1 in the 83rd minute.

It means Pirates have defeated Ahly three times in Egypt to finish the group stage campaign unbeaten with 14 points accumulated from six matches played. They will be seeded in the quarter-finals draw and crucially they will play the second leg at home.

This was the Buccaneers’ first knockout stage appearance since the 2018/19 season under Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic and unlike on that occasion when they finished third in Group B, this time has finished top.

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Hlayisani Magoro

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