They may have stolen the headlines as Bafana Bafana qualified for the Fifa World Cup for the first time in 24 years, but it was a big reality check for Oswin Appollis, Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa as Orlando Pirates crashed to a 3-0 defeat to St Eloi Lupopo in the Caf Champions League on Sunday.
Pirates were hoping to continue their stellar run as they came into their first-leg preliminary round second stage clash at the Stade Kibassa Maliba in Lubumbashi, DRC, on Sunday, but it was not to be.
Their 10-match winning streak came to a crashing halt though, despite the presence of all three goal scorers – Appollis, Mbatha and Makgopa – in Bafana’s historic 3-0 win over Rwanda earlier in the week which sealed their ticket to the Fifa World Cup next year.
It epitomised the highs and lows of professional soccer as the trio returned to Orlando with elevated hero status after their exploits for Bafana just a few days prior, but they could only watch as the hosts dominated proceedings.
Pirates Face DRC Challenges Without Mofokeng, Prepare for Quick League Return Against Polokwane City
It was not as if the conditions in the DRC would have been totally foreign to Pirates either, as coach Abdeslam Ouaddou previously worked in the country with AS Vita Club.
It has to be said though, Pirates were without star youngster Relebohile Mofokeng. The 20-year-old winger was out injured for the clash.
Pirates will now quickly turn their attention back to the league, as they are in action again already on Wednesday. They will host Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium in a Betway Premiership clash in a 7.30pm kick-off.
@Michael_Sherman
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