Pirates run riot in big African victory
THIS is sure to go down in the history of Orlando Pirates as one of their biggest victories in any competition.
The Buccaneers were transformed here last night in the Caf Champions League group A match against Egyptian giants Zamalek.
Pirates ran riot against the five time Champions League winners, making this look like a routine victory against a local side. They top the group with seven points from three games.
Lennox Bacela continued his rich vein of form, getting Bucs ahead in the 27th minute, a deserved goal after the home side had laid into their opponents from the first whistle.
Buoyed by his double against SuperSport United in the MTN 8
The White Knights looked clueless as Bucs turned the screw
last Sunday, Bacela was on the end of a perfect Daine Klate pass, fended off a challenge from Salah Ebrahim and rammed in the opener.
But the Buccaneers’ joy was short-lived as the Egyptians drew level, Mahmoud Fadlalla silencing the capacity crowd with a swift equaliser.
He took advantage of sloppy defending, peeling away from three defenders before turning to fire in past goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
But Pirates finished the first half stronger, Klate soliciting a fine save from goalie Mahmoud Rehim, and Sifiso Myeni also came close before the break.
The onerous schedule, which has seen Pirates play in three competitions in 10 days, appears to have done little to weigh them down as they came from the dressing room pumped up.
Bacela, a thorn in the flesh of the Egyptians on the night, teed up Tlou Segolela to restore Bucs’ lead in the 52nd minute.
The third came from Myeni, the midfielder atoning for his earlier miss, as he finished off from another Klate pass.
Meyiwa initiated the move when he punted upfield, finding Thabo Matlaba on the left, who swiftly fed Klate to release an exquisite pass to Myeni.
The White Knights looked clueless as they remained pinned in their half as the Buccaneers turned the screw.
Klate, the best player on the night, capped the massive win by tapping in a Segolela cross in the 81st minute.