Pirates eliminate Al Ahly to reach CAF final
Pirates reached their first ever Confederation Cup final when they hammered Al Ahly 4-3 (5-3 on aggregate).
Eliot Mahlase
Orlando Pirates claimed an impressive 4-3 victory over Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the semi-final of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday evening in Egypt.
Pirates’ 5-3 aggregate win means that the Sea Robbers will play in their first ever Confederation Cup final.
The Bucanneers came into the match needing only a draw to advance to the final after having won the first leg 1-0 at Orlando stadium.
Al Ahly opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when Abdullah El-Said produced a sublime pass which found Malick Evouna. Evouna beat the offside trap and rounded off Pirates keeper Felipe Ovono with ease before making it 1-0.
The Red Devils of Egypt found their second through Evouna after a swift counter-attack in the beginning of the second half.
Knowing that he had nothing to lose, Pirates coach Eric Tinkler brought in Kermit Erasmus and Thabo Rakhale for Lehlohonolo Majoro and Sfiso Myeni respectively.
The changes paid off immediately when Erasmus curled in a shot which found the back of the net to give the Buccaneers that vital away goal.
Pirates found the equaliser in the 73rd minute when Thamsanqa Gabuza’s shot deflected off a Al Ahly defender.
Matlaba made it three in the dying minutes before Al Ahly pulled one back on the stroke of full-time.
The night however belonged to the men from Soweto, and it was no surprise when Thabo “Jomo” Rakhale scored the final goal of the match to give Pirates a 4-3 victory over Al Ahly.
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