Orlando Pirates advanced to the CAF Confederation Cup final despite suffering a 1-0 loss to Al Ahli Tripoli in the second leg of their semi-final on Sunday night.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Orlando Pirates 0-1 Al Ahli Tripoli (Pirates won 2-1 on aggregate)
Date: 15 May 2022
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Pirates made only one change from their 2-0 win in the first-leg, as Olisa Ndah recovered from injury to partner Happy Jele in the heart of defence while Kwame Peprah played continued to lead the line.
The game got off to a frantic start and Al Ahli thought they had a chance to go ahead in the 15th minute after they were awarded a penalty for a handball by Jele in the box but the referee overturned his own decision after he reviewed the incident on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor.
The visitors gained the ascendancy and Mahmoud Okashah came close to breaking the deadlock with a cracking strike towards the far post that was bravely parried away by goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
However, the Soweto giants had breathing space after the half-hour mark as Ndah spurned a good chance from a header before Ofori had to be alert on the stroke of halftime after repelling a pile-driver from Saeid.
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The Soweto giants looked more settled in the early exchanges of the second stanza and Deon Hotto had a chance to break the deadlock on the hour-mark after a through ball from Peprah, but his shot was crucially blocked by the Al Ahli defender.
The home crowd came to life after that, as Pirates continued to be in control of the contest and the Buccaneers made a double change in the last ten minutes, as Vincent Pule made his return from injury in place of Hotto and Fortune Makaringe replaced Thembinkosi Lorch.
The hosts had a spring in their step in the dying minutes but had a scare in the last minute after Ali Arqoub pulled a goal back for Al Ahli with a looping strike from range that deflected off Goodman Mosele, setting up a nervy finish.
The Libyan side were desperate for the equaliser in stoppage time that could have forced the game to penalties but Pirates held on to book their spot in the final where they will face Moroccan giants RSB Berkane.
Here's how they lined up:
Pirates: Ofori, Jele, Ndah, Shandu, Maela, Motshwari, Mosele, Mabasao, Lorch, Hotto, Peprah
Subs: Mpontshane, Dzvukamanja, Sam, Dlamini, Monare, Makaringe, Hlatshwayo, Pule, Ndlovu
