Orlando Pirates’ aspirations of advancing to the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League were abruptly extinguished in a pulsating penalty shootout against Jwaneng Galaxy on Friday.
The heart-stopping encounter ended 5-4 in favour of Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy, marking the end of the journey for the Buccaneers at the Orlando Stadium.
Despite Pirates winning the return leg 1-0 on their home turf, the aggregate scoreline was deadlocked at 1-1 after 180 minutes of intense action, following their 1-0 defeat to Galaxy in the initial leg two weeks ago.
The defining moment of the contest came when Relebohile Mofokeng missed Orlando Pirates’ sole spot-kick during the shootout, sealing their fate and handing victory to Jwaneng Galaxy.
This victory carried extra significance for Jwaneng Galaxy’s coach, Morena Ramoreboli, a South African-born mentor who had previously guided minnows Maluti FET to an upset win over Orlando Pirates in a cup match a decade ago.
Orlando Pirates, despite coming into the match on the back of three consecutive defeats, were considered the favourites to secure a win and progress to the group stage.
However, Goitseone Phoko’s outstanding goalkeeping nearly thwarted their efforts until Evidence Makgopa found the back of the net.
Phoko displayed his prowess by denying Lepasa’s glancing header early in the match and thwarting Thabang Monare’s shot midway through the first half. His acrobatics continued as he blocked Maswanganyi’s close-range effort.
However, Pirates turned the tide with second-half changes, leading to a chaotic scramble in the box that resulted in the equalizing goal. Makgopa’s low shot, which took a deflection, finally broke Phoko’s resistance.
Both sides remained relentless, mindful of the significance of an away goal. Pirates were disappointed when Erasmus’ thunderous strike ricocheted off the woodwork, and Makgopa squandered two golden opportunities to seal victory.
As the match culminated in a penalty shootout, the spotlight turned to the goalkeepers, with Phoko facing off against Richard Ofori, who had replaced Chaine specifically for the shootout.
In a gripping finale, Phoko emerged as the hero, saving Mofokeng’s crucial penalty and propelling Jwaneng Galaxy into the group stage, while Orlando Pirates endured the heartbreak of elimination from the competition.
INFO SOURCED FROM CAF WEBSITE.
