Orlando Pirates were left breathing a sigh of relief after managing to hold Egyptian side Pyramids FC to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semifinal at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday night.
Despite playing in front of their home crowd, the Buccaneers struggled to impose themselves against a well-organized Pyramids outfit, who had two goals ruled out by VAR and consistently looked more threatening in attack. The result leaves Pirates with a mountain to climb in the second leg in Cairo if they hope to advance to the final and chase a second Champions League title.
Early Promise from Pirates
The match began brightly for the home side, who came out of the blocks with positive intent. Pirates carved out their first real opportunity inside the opening 10 minutes, when Thalenthe Mbatha let fly from long range, forcing a sharp save from Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed Al Shenawy.
That early warning sign was followed by another close effort just five minutes later. Patrick Maswanganyi tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area, only to see his low drive narrowly miss the target, grazing the outside of the left-hand post.
At this point, Pirates appeared to have the upper hand, but their early momentum slowly fizzled out as Pyramids settled into the contest and began to assert their authority.
Pyramids Grow into the Game
As the first half wore on, the Egyptian visitors began to restrict Pirates’ attacking movements, closing down space effectively in midfield and launching sharp counters of their own. Their tactical discipline paid dividends just before the break.
In the 45th minute, Pyramids came agonizingly close to snatching the lead. A hopeful lob into the Pirates penalty area was only partially dealt with, as defender Mbekezile Mbokazi headed the ball into the air. The loose ball fell kindly for Fiston Mayele, who reacted quickly to stab it into the net. However, the celebrations were cut short when VAR intervened to confirm Mayele was offside when the ball was initially played forward.
It was a major let-off for the Buccaneers, who were second best for much of the opening half after their bright start.
VAR Comes to Orlando Pirates Rescue Again
The second half followed a similar script, with Pyramids continuing to probe for an opener. The South African side looked increasingly vulnerable at the back, and just before the hour mark, Mostafa Fathi found himself through on goal after a defensive mix-up involving Deon Hotto. Fortunately for Pirates, defender Deano Van Rooyen raced back to make an outstanding last-ditch tackle and deny what looked like a certain goal.
Pyramids didn’t let up, and moments later Mohamed Chibi whipped in an inviting cross from the right, finding Mayele unmarked in the box. However, the DR Congo striker failed to convert, sending his header over the crossbar from point-blank range.
The visitors continued to carry the greater attacking threat and nearly broke the deadlock again in the 74th minute, this time through Ibrahim Toure, who unleashed a fierce shot from outside the box that whistled just wide of the target.
Their persistence appeared to pay off in the 85th minute when a corner kick resulted in a header finding the back of the Pirates net, but VAR once again stepped in, disallowing the goal for a handball by substitute Sodiq Ougola during the aerial challenge.
Stalemate Leaves Pirates with Work to Do
Despite a late spell of possession and attacking intent from the Buccaneers, they could not create any clear-cut chances to snatch a crucial home victory. In truth, the hosts were lucky to escape with the draw, as Pyramids were the sharper and more composed side throughout the 90 minutes.
With the tie now evenly poised at 0-0, the pressure is firmly on Orlando Pirates to deliver a much stronger performance in the second leg. The decisive clash is set for Friday, April 25, at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo — a venue where Pyramids will undoubtedly look to capitalize on their home advantage.
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