Buccaneers Back Among Africa’s Elite

Orlando Pirates powered their way into the group stage of the CAF Champions League with a 4-0 victory over Namibian champions African Stars to advance past the Second Preliminary Round of the competition when the two sides met at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday night.

The famous Soweto venue hosted the decisive second leg of the tie between the two sides, which was still finely poised after the Buccaneers came away with a narrow 1-0 victory from their away leg. There was still plenty to do with another 90 minutes left to decide which of the two Southern African giants booked their names among the final 16, and it was the home side that etched its name alongside the elite by claiming a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Pirates had some defending to do early on against Stars, who entered the fixture with a one-goal deficit and looked for an early goal to claw their way into the tie. The visitors only had an early set-piece to show for their efforts in the first 10 minutes and not a lot came off it as striker Evidence Makgopa displayed his defensive skills by clearing the danger away.

The Bucs centre-forward was more at home up front, where he produced the home side’s first effort at goal with a right-footed shot which failed to trouble goalkeeper Mervin Kasetura. The Namibian international had an easier attempt to deal with in the 16th minute when Thapelo Mokobodi’s effort caught a deflection that resulted in an easier grab.

There was no such luck for the shot-stopper just moments later as the midfielder had the last laugh when he slid in from close range to turn a Simphiwe Masilela cross from the right flank into the net. The goal put the Soweto Giants two goals ahead on aggregate, effectively placing one foot in the group stages.

However, the contest was far from concluded and the hosts looked to further widen their advantage as Mokobodi went just inches short of completing a quick brace when he went narrowly wide with a right-footed shot from range.

Their next real opportunity came moments away from the break when Tshepang Moremi linked up with Makgopa, who failed to get the necessary connection to direct the ball on target.

The striker would not misfire with his next chance right on the stroke of halftime as he ran onto a Masilela pass down the middle before turning it through Kasetura’s legs, bringing Pirates three-goals clear in the tie.

That significant cushion would have prompted many sides to relax on the other side of the break, but Pirates did the exact opposite as they went in search of even more goals. Their third of the night came just seconds after the restart, courtesy of substitute attacker Mpho Padime who netted with his first touch of the game after linking up with Makgopa.

The teenager could have completed a brace, but could not direct his curling effort towards the target when he unleashed a confident shot from the edge of the box.

The fresh legs from the bench continued to be a factor, with Deon Hotto doing well on the left flank as he went behind the defence before squaring one for Makgopa, who made no mistake in beating Kasetura once more for his second of the night with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the match.

Midfielder Simphiwe Selepe had a late opportunity to extend what was already a considerable lead, but wasn’t able to find a way past the shot-stopper. The earlier goals had nonetheless done more than enough to ensure safe passage to the group stage for the Soweto Giants, who put to bed the ghosts of their previous campaign in comfortably securing their spot in the group stage as South Africa’s sole representative in the prestigious competition.Pirates XI: Chaine (Dladla 64’), Seema (Derbyshire 64’), Zulu, Sigomoshe, Ndaba (Hotto 46’), Selepe, Mbatha (Kgositsile 46’), Mokobodi, Masilela, Moremi (Padime 46’), Makgopa