Tshepang Moremi scored late to give Orlando Pirates FC a narrow advantage in their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie. The Buccaneers laboured to a 1-0 first-leg victory over Namibian champions African Stars at the Botswana National Stadium on Tuesday.
Moremi found the net in the 78th minute, breaking the deadlock in a match where clear chances were scarce. Orlando Pirates dominated possession and launched numerous attacks but were repeatedly denied by the African Stars defence and goalkeeper Mervin Kasetura. Striker Yanela Mbuthuma was put through on goal in the first half by Moremi but could not convert, and he fired another opportunity wide after the break. Kabelo Dlamini also had a curling effort saved by Kasetura in the second half as Pirates pressed for an opener.
The result leaves the Soweto giants needing to finish the job in the return leg at home next Saturday. Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou acknowledged the challenge. "We struggled to find a breakthrough in a closely contested first half," Ouaddou said. "The goal gives us a valuable advantage, but the tie is not over. We must remain focused for the second leg."
Contrasting Soweto fortunes
While Pirates secured their lead, rivals Kaizer Chiefs fell to a 1-0 away defeat against Zambia's Red Arrows in the CAF Confederation Cup. That result means Orlando Pirates are the only one of the two Soweto giants to take a lead into their second leg next weekend. The match in Botswana was played on a neutral venue as African Stars' home ground in Windhoek did not meet CAF requirements.
The Buccaneers' win provides a positive step in their quest to reach the Champions League group stage, a competition they last won in 1995. The team's current standings in the DStv Premiership show they are in a strong domestic position, which they will hope to complement with continental progress. A victory in the second leg would see Pirates advance to the second preliminary round, where they would face the winner of the tie between Royal AM of South Africa and Bumamuru of Burundi.
Orlando Pirates will host African Stars at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday, 25 October, for the decisive second leg.
