Orlando Pirates suffered a 3-2 defeat against Qatari side Al Sadd in their final match of their European tour at the Marbella Football Center on Friday night.

Despite a brace from ;ast season’s top scorer Tshegofatso Mabasa, the Buccaneers were unable to secure a positive result.

In fact, Pirates could have salvaged a 3-3 draw late in the game, but Gilberto squandered a golden opportunity, missing the target completely. The early minutes proved costly for Pirates, as they conceded in the fourth minute due to a defensive error between Thabiso Cesane and Nkosinathi Sibisi, allowing Hashim Ali to slot the ball past Melusi Buthelezi.

However, Pirates responded swiftly, with Mabasa leveling the score four minutes later, capitalizing on a brilliant pass from Kabelo Dlamini. This demonstrated the team’s character and ability to bounce back against a dangerous Al Sadd side. Mabasa completed his brace just two minutes later, showcasing his clinical finishing, which was instrumental in his top scorer award last season.

Despite dominating large portions of the game, Pirates’ defensive frailties were exposed once again, as Gonzalo Plata’s deflected shot found the net to equalize for Al Sadd four minutes before halftime. The second half saw Pirates concede again, with Sibisi caught out of position, allowing Plata to double his tally and put Al Sadd ahead.

With numerous changes due to the pre-season nature of the match, Pirates struggled to maintain their momentum, and Al Sadd comfortably held onto their lead. The game ended in a heated exchange, highlighting the frustration of the defeat.

This was Pirates’ fourth match in Spain, with a 2-2 draw against Plymouth Argyle, a 2-0 victory over Sevilla, and a 1-1 draw against Granada preceding the loss to Al Sadd.