Orlando Pirates defeated MC Alger 1-0 in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.
CAF Champions League
Result: MC Alger 0-1 Orlando Pirates
Date: 01 April 2025
Venue: Stade du 5 Juillet 1962
Young defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi got his first start in the Champions League as coach Jose Riveiro went with the same side that started the win over Mamelodi Sundowns before the international break.
The Algerian outfit made their intentions clear early on, with Mohamed Bangoura heading just wide of the mark in the opening minutes, as the Buccaneers were chasing shadows for most of the early stages.
Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine also proved his worth midway through the first half, with South Africa international rushing off his line to deny Bangoura in a one-on-one situation after the Buccaneers defence was breached.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, struggled get out of their own for most of the first period as the likes of Deon Hotto, Relebohile Mofokeng and Kabelo Dlamini were barley given any time on the ball by the Alger players.
Alger carried that momentum into the second half as they pushed for the opening goal and they went close just before the hour mark as a defensive error afforded Zakaria Naidji an opening, but the midfielder sent his effort wide.
Riveiro made his first alteration soon after as Dlamini made way for Mohua Nkota in an attempt to freshen up the attack with 30 minutes left in the second half.
The change proved to be a masterstroke as Nkota got the breakthrough five minutes after his arrival after latching onto a through-ball from Mofokeng into the box before calmly slotting into the far corner for his third goal in the competition.
Alger had the ball in the back of the net with 20 minutes left on the clock but the celebrations were cut short for a foul from Ayoub Ghezala in the build-up.
However, the Soweto giants put in a gallant effort in defence to see out the remaining stages to secure the win and a clean sheet ahead of next week's second leg.
Here's how they lined up:
MC Alger: Ramdane, Khelif, Abdellaoui, Benkhemassa, Ghezala, Reda Halaimia, Tabti, Zunon, Naidji, Bangoura, Bouras
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Xoki, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Makhuala, Mbatha, Dlamini, Hotto, Mofokeng, Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Maela, Madiba, Shandu, Mosele, Ndlondlo, Nkota, Radiopane, Mabasa
