Orlando Pirates advanced to the group stages of the CAF Champions League with an emphatic 4-0 win over African Stars 4-0 in the second preliminary round second-leg on Friday evening.
The Buccaneers were on a high after the first-leg victory, but the Samba boys weren’t prepared to throw in the towel despite trailing on aggregate and were eager to stun the South African champions.
Pirates hit first gear well in the opening-quarter of the first half and took the lead when Thapelo Mokobodi managed to get behind the defensive line and tucked in a cross from Masilela.
Mokobodi looked to pile more misery on the visitors towards the half-hour mark and pulled out to the right of the six-yard box to drop a shoulder and unleashed a fierce shot, but the effort sailed wide.
After an underwhelming start, the Namibian champions managed to get in at the other end of the pitch and fashioned a sight on goal with a free-kick outside the box, but it didn’t trouble goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
Pirates remained in the ascendancy and went on to double their lead when Simphiwe Masilela released Evidence Makgopa in-behind with a defence-splitting pass and the forward made no mistake and rattled the back of the net.
Second Half:
Ahead of the second half, the Buccaneers made a double substitution despite their two-goal advantage and introduced Mpho Padime for Tshepang Moremi before Thalente Mbatha stepped in for Kabelo Kgositsile.
Padime made an instant impact right after coming on and combined with Makgopa right outside the six-yard area to extend their aggregate lead – furthermore grabbed his first goal for the club.
The confidence in the development graduate was on a high ten minutes later as he lined-up another cracking attempt from the edge of the area after managing to work out an angle, but the effort sailed inches wide of the mark.
As the Buccaneers enjoyed complete control, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou decided to give first appearance of the campaign to goalkeeper Siyabonga Dladla who replaced first-choice Sipho Chaine for the remainder of the contest.
Pirates didn’t let up amidst an already healthy advantage and snatched a fourth when substitute Deon Hotto latched onto a cross-field to the left to cross for Makgopa for a tap in to complete his brace, sealing the big win and their spot in the group stages.
CAF Champions League
Teams: Orlando Pirates v African Stars
Result: 4-0 (5-0 aggregate)
Scorers: Mokobodi (17′), Makgopa (45′, 77′), Padime (46′)
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