Posted On Sunday, 4th August 2013
Fatawu Dauda was not in the Orlando Pirates team that crashed Al Ahly
Ghana goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda played no part in Orlando Pirates’ thumping CAF Champions League win over Al Ahly on Sunday.
The first choice Black Stars goalkeeper was conspiciously missing in the team named by coach Roger De Sa for the away game played in El-Gouna.
Dauda joined the Buccanneers last month from Ghanaian Premier League side AshantiGold.
The 27-year-old has since found it tough to overtake coach De Sa’s preferred first choice; Senzo Meyiwa.
Pirates opened the scoring against the run of play, after some fantastic passing between Thandani Ntshumayelo and Collins Mbesuma resulted in Ntshumayelo finishing clinically from 14 metres out.
The visitors sat back a little after the opener, and were lucky not to concede on 17 minutes, when Saad Samir had a shot on target after a scramble resulting from a free-kick, but Lucky Lekgwathi cleared the ball off the goal line.
On the half-hour mark Mbesuma came agonisingly close with a free-kick, and a few minutes later Andile Jali brought down Ahmed Abdul Zaher in the box and Ahly were awarded a penalty.
However, the Egyptian giants were denied an equaliser by Senzo Meyiwa, who made a brilliant diving save to deny Walid Soliman from the spot.
Al Ahly were then reduced to 10 men when Ahmed Abdul Zaher was shown a second yellow just before half-time.
Pirates got their second and third goals in quick succession. First, Daine Klate was fouled in the box by Ahmed Fathi, and Jali coolly converted the penalty.
Three minutes later Jali turned provider, flicking the ball on for Sifiso Myeni to latch onto, round the keeper and toe-poke home.
The win gives Pirates a healthy 3-0 advantage ahead of the second leg with champions Al Ahly all but certainly out of the competition.