Pirates Face Uphill Battle After Heavy Defeat To Lupopo
Orlando Pirates have a massive task ahead in the second leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Congolese side St. Eloi Lupopo at Stade Frédéric Kibassa Maliba on Sunday.
Unlike Kaizer Chiefs, who managed a draw against AS Simba in the CAF Confederation Cup first leg on Saturday and will take that advantage into the return leg in Johannesburg next weekend, Pirates now face a mountain to climb. They must score at least four goals without reply to overturn the deficit and secure a place in the Champions League group stages.
Failure to progress would be a major setback for the Soweto giants, who reached the semi-finals of this competition last season.
Lupopo stunned Pirates early when Wanet Kashala opened the scoring in the third minute. Dramane Kambou doubled the advantage in the 70th minute, before Jean Benoît Tukumbane sealed the emphatic win with a third goal in the 89th minute.
The return leg will be played at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, where Pirates will need to deliver a commanding performance to stay alive in the tournament.
Before that crucial fixture, the Buccaneers will host Polokwane City in a Betway Premiership clash at the same venue on Wednesday.
