Orlando Pirates qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals with a match to spare after defeating JS Saoura 2-0 on Sunday evening.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Saoura 0-2 Orlando Pirates
Date: 20 March 2022
Venue: Stade du 5 Juillet
The Sowoeto giants made three alterations from the win over SuperSport United, as captain Happy Jele, Abel Mabaso and Kwame Peprah all returned to the starting line-up.
The Buccaneers had a bright start, with Peprah and Hotto particularly linking up play well in the last third by they lacked the final product.
However, Saoura nearly took the lead in the 17th minute after Ismail Saâdi was allowed to have an over-head kick in the box that flashed not far over crossbar.
The Algerian side had a good attacking spell after the half-hour mark and Saâdi came close to breaking the deadlock nine minutes before the halftime break with low strike across goal that produced a fine save from goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
Overall, it was a frustrating opening 45 minutes for the South African outfit, who were hoping to carry over the momentum from Wednesday's comeback although they could not get their regular game going.
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That all changed in the second half as Ntsikelelo Nyauza broke the deadlock three minutes in with a glancing header in the box towards the far post after a well floated free-kick by Hotto.
The visitors remained on the front foot and Kabelo Dlamini doubled their lead three minutes later with a side-footed into the bottom corner after a square pass by Bandile Shandu in the box.
With Saoura pressurising Pirates after that, the Soweto giants were down to ten men 15 minutes before time after Goodman Mosele received a second booking.
The Buccaneers were soaking up the pressure in the dying minutes and reinforced the defence with the introduction of Innocent Maela in place of Shandu.
The Soweto giants showed resilience at the back as they held on to qualify for the quarter-finals with a match to spare, two points clear at the top of the group and completed a double over Saoura.
Here's how they lined up:
Pirates: Ofori, Jele, Ndah, Nyauza, Mako, Mabaso, Mosele, Shandu, Dlamini, Hotto, Peprah
Subs: Mpontshane, Dzvukamanja, Lepasa, Maela, Sam, Makaringe, Hlatshwayo, Makgaka, Ndlovu
