Orlando Pirates booked their spot in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals with 2-1 win over Belouizdad on Sunday afternoon.
CAF Champions League
Result: Orlando Pirates 2-1 CR Belouizdad
Date: 12 January 2025
Venue: Orlando Stadium
The Buccaneers were boosted by the return of Makhehlene Makhaula, who was suspended for the loss to Cape Town City on Wednesday, as the only change for the home side.
Former City striker Khanyisa Mayo, who scored in the reverse clash in November, was named in the attack while former Leicester City striker Islam Silmani was also included.
The Algerian side made the early noise looking for the opening goal, but it was the Buccaneers who broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Tshegofatso Mabasa's was parried back into play, where Relebohile Mofokeng on was on hand to fire home.
Belouizdad should have been back on level terms six minutes later when Abderrahmane Maziane got ahead of the Pirates defence to go through on goal, but the forward was denied by a superb save from Sipho Chaine.
The Algerian outfit came out firing in the second half and they nearly levelled matters five minutes in as Mayo showed great control before setting up Slimani, who sent his effort over the target.
Pirates dented the visitors' spirit after the hour mark by doubling their lead in fine style as Thalente Mbatha rattled the back of the net with a sensational strike from distance.
Second-half substitute Islam Belkhir nearly gave Belouizdad a lifeline with 15 minutes left on the clock, but the attacker was unable to steer his first-time effort on target at the far post.
The visitors did push bodies forward in search of a way back into the contest, and they did pull one back in second-half stoppage time via a deflected effort from the edge of the box.
Riveiro's men will travel to Al Ahly next weekend, with the two sides set to battle it out for top spot in Group C.
Here's how they lined up:
Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 5. Van Rooyen, 30. Sibisi, 28. Sesane, 7. Hotto, 16. Mbatha, 8. Makhaula, 10. Maswanganyi, 3. Mofokeng, 33. Nkota, 19. Mabasa
Subs: 1. Buthelezi, 11. Gilberto, 17. Makgopa, 18. Dlamini, 27. Xoki, 29. Mako, 31. Rasebotja, 36. Radiopane, 37. Lebitso
Belouizdad: 40. Zeghba, 2. Keddad, 24. Khacef, 3. Benayada, 4. Hadded, 7. Chaabi, 8. Benguit, 15. Selmi, 9. Mayo, 11. Meziane, 9. Slimani
