Bucs blow it at home against Zamalek
at Mbombela Stadium FOOTBALL, they say, can be cruel. But this was not cruel.
This is what happens when you don’t take your chances and make the most of your dominance against top teams.
Had they not spent most of the match trying to walk the ball into the net, Orlando Pirates would have gone back to Johannesburg with a comfortable victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek in this Caf Confederation Cup match and a comfortable lead in Group B.
But five minutes after Lehlohonolo Majoro had given Pirates the lead, Maroaf Yusuf netted the equaliser for the visitors. Substitute Moustafa Mohamed scored the winner, six minutes from time, with a sweet left-footed strike which beat the outstretched Brighton Mhlongo and the game finished 2-1.
The Buccaneers, unbeaten in this year’s competition, treated the ball like the Brazilians and Spanish do: as if it were an object of love, caressing it, jealously refusing to share it.
They played some good football, especially in the first half, but they had nothing to show for it by the time referee Bernard Camille of the Seychelles blew his whistle for full time. Instead, they hung their heads in disappointment, wondering how on earth they lost.
Now, they have to try to get maximum points on the road in their match against Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in a fortnight.
Pirates coach Eric Tinkler made a plea when Pirates returned from their victory over AC Leopards a fortnight ago for fans to come out in their numbers for the match against five-time African champions Zamalek. The Bucs faithful did not disappoint, driving to Nelspruit from far and wide.
The excitement along the N4 highway was there for all to see as fans danced with their heads outside the taxi windows, while others tried desperately to get tickets at the gate. But they went home disappointed.
Defender Rooi Mahamutsa and in-form striker Thamsanqa Gabuza returned to the starting lineup after missing the 1-0 victory over Leopards through suspension, and the latter should have given the hosts the lead after 20 minutes.
After receiving a pass from Sifiso Myeni, Gabuza did very well to beat a Zamalek defender but his shot with his weaker left foot went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Ahmed Nassen. Left-back Thabo Matlaba also had a shot at goal, but his effort was a tame one too.
Sensing they had a chance to win, Zamalek pushed forward a lot more in the second half and had two shots go narrowly wide. It was a warning.
Pirates substitute Majoro needed just two touches to show his teammates how it’s done. Two minutes after coming on for Kermit Erasmus, the former Kaizer Chiefs striker latched onto a pass from Myeni and finished at the near post.
But five minutes later, Yusuf stunned the crowd with the equaliser from a well-struck shot with his left foot.
Mohamed then sealed the deal with a curling shot.
Pirates are in second place in Group B on three points after two matches.
Tinkler said: “I think we deserved a bit more. I am not saying we deserved to win but a draw would have probably been a fair result. But it’s not the end of the world. We are still second and the two other teams [Leopards and Sfaxien] drew [1-1 on Friday].” Pirates stay in Nelspruit for pre-season training.