adminIN a historical display, Orlando Pirates ran out convincing winners as they beat Egyptian giants Al Ahly 3-0 in their Group A Caf Champions League match at the El-Gouna Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Al Ahly started the better of the two sides and came close to breaking the deadlock in the ninth minute as some good build-up play saw Shehab Ahmed find space 20-yards out from goal, but he dragged his shot narrowly wide of goal.
In the 11th minute, against the run of play, a brilliant passing move by Pirates saw the South African team take the lead.
Thandani Ntshumayelo and Collins Mbesuma combined well, passing between each other as Ntshumayelo worked his way into the box and produced a clinical finish from 14-yards out to give Pirates the lead, 1-0.
After going behind the game took a familiar form as Ah Ahly pushed numbers forward and Pirates sat back in defence and looked to hit on the counter-attack.
In the 17th minute some desperate defending saw Lucky Lekgwathi clear the ball off the goal line after Saad Samir shot goalwards following a goalmouth scramble from a left-sided free-kick.
In the 31st minute Collins Mbesuma came within inches of doubling his side’s lead as he saw his powerful 35-yard free-kick go just wide of the target.
In the 37th minute Al Ahly were gifted a great opportunity to level matters when Andile Jali gave away a penalty after bringing down Ahmed Abdul Zaher inside the box.
But Al Ahly were deprived of the equaliser as Senzo Meyiwa made a brilliant save, diving to his left to deny Walid Soliman from the penalty spot.
The half ended on a rather sour note as Al Ahly were reduced to ten men after Ahmed Abdul Zaher received his second yellow card in the dying minutes of the first half.
The half ended 1-0 in favour of Pirates.
Despite being a man down at the start of the second 45, the Egyptian side seemed the more energetic and saw more of the ball, but could not create any decent openings on goal.
In the 61st minute they did manage to muster a shot on goal, but Meyiwa was at hand again, diving to his left to palm away a 22-yard shot.
Seven minutes later and it was the turn of Al Ahly keeper, Sherif Ekramy, to make a good save denying Ndumiso Mabena from close range after he latched onto a right-sided free-kick at the back post.
In the 73rd minute Pirates found their second goal of the match from the penalty spot after Daine Klate was fouled inside the box by Ahmed Fathi. Andile Jali was cool as ice as he converted from the spot with ease, 2-0.
The result was put beyond doubt three minutes later as Sifiso Myeni scored the Buccaneers third goal of the game. Jali turned provider with a delightful flick over the Al Ahly defence for Myeni to latch onto, round the keeper and toe-poke the ball home, 3-0.
Lennox Bacela was unlucky not to find the back of the net in the 78th minute as he struck the crossbar from 16-yards out.
The game ended 3-0 in favour of the South African side as they went to the top of Group A.-Supersport.
Online Reporter