The dream of an historic all-South African Caf Champions League final is on tenterhooks after Orlando Pirates were stopped in their tracks by a plucky Pyramids FC of Egypt in the first-leg semifinal at FNB Stadium yesterday.
The Buccaneers followed in Mamelodi Sundowns’ footsteps as they were held to a 0-0 draw by an in-form Egyptian side — which was unlucky to see two of their goals in either half ruled out by VAR.
Earlier yesterday, Sundowns could also only muster a 0-0 draw against the defending champions Al Ahly, which makes the final featuring these two Egyptian teams more possible.
Like any other semifinal of a Champions League, this match was very tactical, with both teams giving little away. The visitors didn’t hold back, using every little chance they had to try to catch Jose Riveiro’s side on the break.
The Pyramids defence was also solid and only came under threat in the 15th minute when Patrick Maswanganyi saw his stinging shot narrowly missing the upright.
Moments later, however, Tshegofatso Mabasa should have stretched his legs more to get onto the end of a tantalising cross from Deon Hotto on the left, where the Namibian left-back and Relebohile Mofokeng were threatening to penetrate the visitors.
The Pirates defence, which was marshalled by skipper Nkosinathi Sibisi, did well to bottle dangerous DR Congo striker Fiston Mayele. Sibisi’s teenage partner, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, continued to play like a seasoned centre-back that led to Riveiro starting him ahead of the more experienced Thapelo Xoki.
But Pirates were let off the hook a few seconds before the break when Mayele’s goal was ruled offside after Burundian referee Pacifique Ndayishimiye sent for the VAR to check its legitimacy.
It looked like a genuine goal to the naked eye, as Mayele had coolly finished off after the ball ricocheted off Mbokazi’s head before putting it beyond keeper Sipho Chaine. Pirates survived because Mayele was in an offside position when the initial pass was directed at him.
Two minutes before the end, another Pyramids goal was ruled out by VAR, as the ball had hit the hands of a scorer before crossing the line.
Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurcic seems to have also gone against his promise of open attacking football, with his decision to leave playmaker Ramadan Sobhi among the substitutes.
But this Egyptian side, which was founded in 2008, did not play like a team featuring for the first time in the semifinals of this competition. They competed for every ball and looked to punish Pirates whenever they sniffed a chance.
Frustrated at not having things their way, Chaine had moments where he was not on the same page with the Pirates fans, who were not happy with the slow pace at which he was starting the team’s moves from the back.
Riveiro showed he wanted a result in the first leg of this match with his decision to have four attacking players in Maswanganyi, Mohau Nkota, Mabasa and Mofokeng in his starting XI.
Nkota, though, had a quite game on the right side of the Bucs attack, where he had little support from right back Deano van Rooyen and Maswanganyi, who was all over the place at times.
Like Sundowns, Pirates will have to dig deep to get a result at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Friday to qualify for the Champions League final for the third time after winning in 1995 and finishing as runners-up in 2013.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.