Orlando Pirates fell to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Tanzanian giants Simba SC in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Simba 1-0 Orlando Pirates
Date: 17 April 2022
Venue: Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
Pirates showed two changes to their starting line-up with Tshegofatso Mabasa dropping out for Kwame Peprah and Innocent Maela coming into the side for the stricken Paseka Mako.
Simba were the dominant side in the opening exchanges and it was pretty much one-way traffic with Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori having already been forced into a couple of saves in the opening ten minutes.
The Bucanneers almost took the lead in the tenth minute. Ntsikelelo Nyauza played a long ball over the top to find Peprah's superb run and he went clear on goal but sent it wide of the target.
In the 18th minute a free-kick was awarded to Pirates a few paces away from the Simba penalty area. Deon Hotto curled it in and forced a fumble off the keeper, who gathered at the second attempt.
Peprah was vindicating his inclusion after missing out last time out and was leading the line well. In the 27th minute he tried to catch the keeper off-guard with a curler and it went just wide.
The Nigerian frontman had two further attempts, the first of which was straight at the keeper and the second of which went wide as the sides went into the break scoreless.
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In the 51st minute Pirates won a corner which Deon Hotto swung in and Maela rose highest but headed narrowly wide.
As was the case in the first half, Simba were still enjoying over 60 percent of the possession and after some good build up Pape Sakho laid it off to Kope Mugalu, who unleashed from long-range and it was saved in the bottom right corner.
Simba won a penalty in the 65th minute after Ofori brought down Bernard Morrison in the area. Shomari Kapombe stepped up to the spot and found the bottom right corner.
IN the 76th minute Fortune Makaringe was played in by Bandile Shandu and forced a save off the keeper from a tight angle. With ten minutes to go Makaringe turned provider when he threaded one through for Zakhele Lepasa, but the pass was slightly overhit as the opportunity went begging.
Try as they might Pirates were unable to work their way back into the game and take a 1-0 deficit into the return leg in Soweto.
Confirmed line-ups:
Pirates: Ofori, Jele, Maela, Nyauza, Shandu, Ndlovu, Mosele, Monare, Hotto, Dlamini, Peprah
Subs: Mpontshane, Hlatshwayo, Makaringe, Mabaso, Mntambo, Sam, Motshwari, Lorch, Lepasa
