A valiant effort at home was not enough to ensure survival in the CAF Champions League for Orlando Pirates, who bowed out despite launching a remarkable comeback to win 3-0 in the deciding leg of their Second Preliminary Round fixture against Saint-Éloi Lupopo at Orlando Stadium, where they went down on penalties on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates exited the competition after the two-legged tie ended in a 3-3 aggregate score following the second leg in Soweto. This is after sinking to a 3-0 loss in their away leg fixture played in Lumumbashi last Sunday. The result ensured that their spirited effort at home was in vain as they fell short in the shootout after the two sides finished level at the end of the deciding leg, with the hosts eventually failing to make the cut in the group stage of the competition, having done so in its previous edition.
The Soweto Giants needed a convincing victory on home soil to progress past the preliminary rounds, and did not hesitate to control possession early on. Chances were hard to come by in the opening exchanges as they encountered a Lupopo outfit comfortable with sitting back and absorbing the pressure, thanks to their comfortable advantage.
Unable to break into the final third early, Pirates resorted to long-range efforts with the likes of Tshepang Moremi and Patrick Maswanganyi each having a go from a fair distance out. Those ambitious efforts could not yield the desired result as neither player found his bearings.
The hosts continued to probe, and their first shot on target came from midfielder Sihle Nduli who drew a save from goalkeeper Simon Omossola with another effort from range. The Cameroonian’s opposite number Sipho Chaine was also called upon shortly after, pulling off an exceptional save to deny Basiala Amongo.
Pirates’ ambitious attempts eventually paid off with six minutes left before the break, when Masindi Nemtajela benefitted from a mid-pitch turnover before surging forward and unleashing an excellent shot from outside the penalty area which left Omossola motionless on its way to the back of the net.
That strike triggered a fair bit of emotions kickstarted by an outburst from Lupopo defender Chris Sumbu, who assaulted the goal-scorer, before retaliation from Moremi’s saw each side finish the half with 10 men after both players were sent off.
As was the case in the first period, the two sides could only find shots at goal through long-range attempts in the early exchanges of the second half. Oswin Appollis was first to ask questions of the opposing goalkeeper seconds from the restart, while Enock Molia was also denied by a superb stop from Chaine moments later.
With Pirates still left with plenty of ground to cover, they remained the main aggressors and could have been rewarded eight minutes into the second half when Kabelo Dlamini looked to sneak one into the Lupopo net from a distance, only to be denied by Omossala.
Captain Mbekezeli Mbokazi followed suit with a low effort that drew the Cameroonian to his right to make a save, while Apollis’ effort from a similar range failed to trouble the shot-stopper.
It would take an effort from close range for the Buccaneers to find their second, and it came through a set piece delivered by Dlamini who located replacement striker Yanela Mbuthuma whose header from the near post to reduced the deficit to just a single goal.
The home side had late chances, with Dlamini and fellow substitute Thabiso Lebitso both launching shots from a fair distance out. It took until the very last movement of injury time for Pirates to breach the Railmen’s resolute defence as Appollis conjured up a late strike from range to send the game into penalties.
The shootout did not immediately go the way of the Buccaneers as they conceded with the first spot kick before Hotto drew a save from Omossola. Junior Mavungu put the visitors ahead with the second penalty, while the two sides traded accurate efforts from the spot with Dlamini, Lebone Seema, and Appollis all finding the back of the net for Pirates.
A miss gave the Buccaneers a glimmer of hope, shortly before Maswanganyi sent the contest into sudden death with a well-taken effort. Berdy Matukala put Lupopo back ahead, but the pressure proved too much for Mbuthuma, whose effort was misplaced.
That proved to be it for Pirates as they fell a step short of another appearance in the group stage of the Champions League despite their brave effort.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Mbokazi, Sebelebele (Lebitso 72’), Hotto, Nduli (Dansin 80’), Mbule (Mbuthuma 46’), Nemtajela (Dlamini 46’), Moremi, Appollis.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.
