CAF Champions League
Result: Green Eagles 1-0 Orlando Pirates
Date: 10 August 2019
Venue: Nkoloma Stadium
Orlando Pirates' CAF Champions League journey got off to a rocky start after suffering a 1-0 loss to Green Eagles in the first leg of their preliminary round clash in Zambia.
Thembinkosi Lorch was once again left out of the match day squad, as Luvuyo Memela was named in the attack alongside Vincent Pule, Augustine Mulenga and Justin Shonga.
Despite entering their first season in competition, Eagles were not to be taken lightly as they finished second in the Zambian Super Leaugue behind Zesco. The Buccaneers enjoyed a lot of the possession in the early stages, although they were unable to test Eagles shot-stopper Sebastian Mwange for most of the opening exchanges. At the other end, Pirates shot-stopper Wayne Sandilands had more work to deal with as he was on hand to deny Hosea Silwimba after 23 minutes before he denied Chibwe minutes later. Pirates almost went in to the halftime break trailing after Silwimba's cross found an un-marked Samson Chilupe in the box, but the latter was unable to collect the ball, much to the pleasure of the visitors' defence.
Here's how they lined up: Eagles came out firing in the second half and broke the deadlock a minute in, with Spencer Sautu finding the back of the net after being set up by Chilupe. With the Buccaneers looking for a response, coach Milutin Sredojevic threw on Gabadinho Mhango for Memela just after the hour mark and the Malawian nearly made an immediate impact as his free-kick sailed jut wide of the target. The visitors continued to throw bodies as Ben Motshwari did well to pick out the lively Mulenga with a long pass, but the Zambian forward was unable to capatilise with 17 minutes remaining. Justin Shonga made way in the final 10 minutes, with Kabelo Dlamini getting his first taste of continental football following his move from Bloemfontein Celitc. However, the Absa Premiership outfit were unable to claw their way back in to the clash as Eagles held on for the slender win to take to the second leg, which is scheduled for 23 August at Orlando Stadium
Pirates: Sandilands, Jele, Ndengane, Maela, Mbekile, Motshwari, Nyatama, Memela, Pule, Mulenga, Shonga, Subs: Mpontshane, Nyauza, Mabaso, Mlambo, Makaringe, Dlamini, Mhango.
