Chronicle Editor
ORLANDO Pirates’ hopes of reaching the Caf Champions League quarter-finals are still alive despite drawing 2-2 with Zimbabwean outfit FC Platinum at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
The Buccaneers were trailing 2-0 at half-time with Never Tigere and Rainsome Pavari having scored for the Platinum Boys.
However, Bucs came back strong in the second half and they managed to score two late goals through Thembinkosi Lorch and Augustine Mulenga to ensure that the match ended in a stalemate.
Take a look at some interesting stats from the match.
Bucs boss the game
Bucs dominated possession as they had 61 percent of the ball and they also had a better pass rate (83.3%) compared to Platinum’s 73.1 percent.
Negative Platinum?
Pirates unsurprisingly touched the ball 633 times to Platinum’s 444 touches.
Platinum – Long ball specialists
Platinum sat back and launched counter-attacks; playing 74 long balls, while the hosts played 47 long balls.
Pirates keep Mhari busy, Sandilands
a passenger
Petros Mhari, the Platinum shot-stopper was the busier of the two goalkeepers, as he made five saves compared to his Pirates counterpart Wayne Sandilands’ one.
Pirates dominate corner-kicks
The Soweto giants had a whopping 14 corner-kicks compared to the reigning Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League champions’ two.
Positive Pirates
The Platinum Boys were very defensive in the second half, making just six positive actions in the opposition box. Pirates on the other hand enjoyed 33.
Pirates got their shooting boots on
Pirates had 14 shots inside the Platinum box, while the visitors managed only five the entire match.
It’s not over for Pirates just yet
The draw saw Pirates remain third on the Group B standings; a point behind second-placed Horoya AC of Guinea, while the leaders, Esperance of Tunisia have already booked their place in the quarter-finals as group winners.
Only a victory over Horoya in Guinea will see Pirates finish second in the group and qualify for the quarter-finals later this month, while Platinum, who have already been eliminated, will host Esperance. — Goal.com
Online Reporter