Orlando Pirates have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League after suffering a 5-4 defeat on penalties to St Eloi Lupopo in the second leg of the second preliminary round at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
The Buccaneers came into the match trailing 3-0 from the first leg in Congo. Backed by a capacity crowd in Soweto, they produced a spirited performance as Masindi Nemtajela, Yanela Mbuthuma, and Oswin Appollis scored to level the tie 3-3 on aggregate, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
It was a heartbreaking end for Abdelsam Ouaddou’s side, who reached the CAF Champions League semi-finals last season before losing to eventual champions Pyramids FC of Egypt — the same side that beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
From the onset, Ouaddou’s team selection made his attacking intent clear. He opted for a striker-less formation, with Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, and Patrick Maswanganyi interchanging in advanced positions to unsettle the Lupopo defence.
However, overturning a three-goal deficit in continental competition was always going to be a massive challenge.
Pirates announced before kickoff that the match was sold out, with thousands of supporters filling Orlando Stadium to rally behind the team’s comeback bid.
Early in the first half, Nemtajela felt he should have been awarded a penalty, but referee Ali Moussa from Niger waved play on. Frustrated, Nemtajela threw the ball to the ground and was shown a yellow card for dissent.
As Pirates piled on the pressure, Lupopo sat deep, content to absorb attacks and frustrate the hosts. Their defensive plan worked until the 39th minute, when Nemtajela fired home a low strike from the edge of the box, leaving goalkeeper Simon Medjo rooted to the spot.
Moments later, tempers flared when Moremi was sent off for pushing an opponent during a scuffle, with Chris Sumbu also dismissed for Lupopo — reducing both sides to 10 men.
Pirates kept pushing, and their persistence paid off in the 69th minute, when Mbuthuma headed home Kabelo Dlamini’s corner to make it 2-0 and reignite hope.
The Soweto giants continued to press forward, and deep into stoppage time, Appollis scored to make it 3-3 on aggregate, sparking wild celebrations inside the stadium.
With no extra time played, the match went straight to penalties, where Dion Hotto and Mbuthuma missed their spot-kicks. The latter sent his effort wide during sudden death, leaving the young forward in tears as Pirates’ campaign came to a painful end.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns look set to be South Africa’s only representatives in the CAF Champions League group stages, after their commanding 5-1 first-leg victory over Remo Stars of Nigeria last weekend. The second leg will take place in Pretoria on Sunday.
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