Bucs have it all to do again
Need to win away in second leg after disappointing draw
At Orlando Stadium ORLANDO Pirates have shown they can win away in this Caf Confederation Cup — barring penalties or an away goals victory, they will have to do it again against Etoile Sportive du Sahel to lift the trophy.
Bucs, having had the lead through Thamsanqa Gabuza’s 36th-minute stunner, but then conceding a late equaliser by Ammar Jemal (87th), are set for a taut second leg in Sousse on Sunday.
Pirates certainly have the bottle to earn an away result. Whatever that is, Bucs, having failed in their overriding objective of not conceding at home, will have to score at least a goal, and probably more against superbly organised opponents, to lift the first continental trophy since the 1995 Champions Cup.
These days South African teams can be as dangerous travelling — Bafana Bafana showed it again with Friday’s 3-1 victory against Angola in Benguela, and Bucs in this Confed’s semifinals with a 4-3 away leg win against al-Ahly.
Now, with the odds seemingly stacked against Pirates, it’s down to a celestial roll of a dice and the pure guts and determination of a Buccaneers side hungry to turn the sweat and toil of three years crossing Africa in search of continental success into silverware.
A capacity 40 000 crowd was largely silenced by the end of the 90 minutes, first by Pirates’ frustrations attempting to earn a second, then more so by Jemal’s strike.
Etoile’s 65-year-old coach Faouzi Benzarti appeared to have come to Orlando to set Bucs counterpart Eric Tinkler, 20 years his junior, a physics exam.
Out of possession Etoile set themselves up with three centre backs, midfielder Alaya Brigui dropping back to right wingback. With two defensive midfielders — Mohamed Amine Ben Amor and Cameroon international Franck Kom — in front of a back five, it made a formidable barrier for Bucs to break down.
When in attack, Brigui would drift as far upfield as playmaker, as Sahel switched to a 4-4-2, towering central defender Hamdi Naguez pushing forward as a right back.
Bucs kept things simpler with a standard 4-4-2, their formula not changing from the one that has guided them to two continental semifinals in three years, where they have especially troubled North African teams with their quickness in attack.
Tinkler opted for continuity with Siyabonga Sangweni in his central defence next to Ayanda Gcaba, even though Rooi Mahamutsa was back from injury.
Pirates certainly tried to stamp their authority from the start. They had the first shot in anger as Thabo Matlaba was teed up by Thamsanqa Gabuza.
Mohamed Makni had the ball in the net for Etoile from Hamza Lahmar’s free kick, but replays showed an offside call to be marginally correct.
Bucs’ centre-back pairing have been brave, if imperfect. Sangweni, more warhorse now than race horse, and goalkeeper Felipe Ovono were hesitant to a through ball in the 23rd minute, allowing danger man and Confed top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah in for a touch. Ovono palmed into his side-netting.
Etoile appeared to be successfully stifling Bucs, and their fluidity in structure was troublesome to the home side.
Play had opened up with Etoile pushing forward, allowing Matlaba to pass into Gabuza making a near-post run peeling off the defence. The big striker’s thunderous shot from an almost impossible angle past goalkeeper Mohamed Jemal was enough to shake Orlando Stadium, let alone the roar that followed.
Early in the second half, Mpho Makola forced a save off Jemal’s legs. Bucs were looking rampant, as Makola cut inside and was dispossessed when he might have shot moments later.
But Sahel showed their class, winning a free kick which Lahmar struck onto a beaten Ovono’s crossbar.
Pirates could not regain the momentum as they butted their heads into resolute, physical and characteristically organised North African opponents until the end.
Then, with four minutes left, Lahmar’s free kick was headed downwards by Bucs captain Happy Jele, the ball squirting to Jemal free on the left, who buried an equaliser past Ovono.
OUCH! Pirates striker Thamsanqa Gabuza is fouled by Mohamed Amine Ben Amor of Etoile du Sahel last night at Orlando Stadium
A capacity 40 000 crowd was largely silenced by the end of the 90 minutes