Orlando Pirates was held to a frustrating goalless draw by Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League match at the sold-out Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

As the signs of the sale of tickets were up on Friday, fans expected that would be translated on the pitch with a glut of goals, but the game could not produce them to reward them.

Pirates coach Jose Riveiro made only three changes on Saturday to his team that played against CR Belouizdad and Stellenbosch after the FIFA international break.

Deano Van Rooyen, Paseka Mako, and Monnapule Saleng replaced Thabiso Monyane, Patrick Maswanganyi, and the youngster Mohau Nkota, who scored a brace against CR Belouizdad in Algeria. The first 15 minutes of the game were balanced as both teams were in control of the game, and unfortunately, no one managed to score at least one goal.

The Buccaneers got their first chance in the 35th minute. Unfortunately, Saleng’s shot deflected to Al Ahly’s defender then the goalkeeper saved it to make a corner kick. Pirates continued playing well and they got another chance in the 42nd minute and Saleng took a great shot from outside the box, but his shot went wide.

The first half ended 0-0 as no one managed to score. In the second half, the Buccaneers got a chance in the 55th minute but Thalente Mbatha’s shot from outside the box went wide. Immediately after that shot, the Red Devils almost scored but Sipho Chaine made a great save to deny the visitors an opportunity to open the scoring.

In the 62nd minute, Ahly made the first sub of the game introducing the Bafana Bafana attacker Percy Tau and Mohamed Moursy substituting Wessam Ali and Emam Abdelghany. The Buccaneers made a mistake at the back in the 67th minute and the Egyptian giants almost scored a great goal.

After that mistake, Riveiro substituted Deon Hotto and Evidence Makgopa for Nkota and Tshegofatso Mabasa. The Red Devils got a great chance in the 84th minute from inside the box, but Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Chaine made another great save to see the spoils shared.