The Sunday News
Johannesburg — Orlando Pirates advanced to the Group stages of the Caf Confederations Cup with a 4-1 win over Guinea’s Kaloum Star at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday.
Pirates led 2-0 after the first leg, after a great away win two weeks ago, and won 6-1 on aggregate.
Kaloum Star showed early attacking intent, however, Pirates comfortably controlled the opening exchanges, but neither side were able to get a shot at goal until the tenth minute, when Kaloum had a half chance from a corner that was comfortably blocked and cleared.
A minute later Kouyate tried a long range effort, but the effort went high and wide.
In the 12th minute Kassongo found himself with a chance to shoot from inside the box, but his effort flew high over Benson Mhlongo’s goal.
As Pirates began to push more forward, their fans in the packed Bidvest stadium started to make themselves heard.
And it was Erasmus who responded in the 22nd minute, when he put the Buccaneers into the lead with a simple tap in, after some excellent work down the left by Thamsanqa Gabuza, who rounded the keeper Toure outside the box, and did well to find Erasmus, who was waiting in front of goal.
Agogo Camara had a chance for the visitors in the 35th minute, but after some good work to get into the box, his shot flew high and wide.
Just before half-time Erasmus had a chance to head in a Thabo Matlaba cross, but he sent it wide of goal, and two minutes later Erasmus set up Rakhale, but his shot thundered into the woodwork and back into play.
Kaloum started the second half in the perfect way when a minute in, Agogo Camara headed the visitors level on the day.
Almost immediately Rakhale had a chance on the other side but his volley was well saved by Toure.
Thabo Matlaba made a run into the box in the 51st minute, but Toure was once again up to the task to punch away the left back’s shot.
Gabuza handed Pirates back the lead a minute later, as he finished off a goalmouth scramble from close range, that after a saved shot from the edge of the area by Oupa Manyisa.
In the 59th minute an off-side-looking Gabuza got his second to make it 3-1 to Pirates, as he ran onto a pass, and deftly finished past a diving Toure.
Sifiso Myeni made it 4-1 with a great goal in the 75th minute as he ran onto a super over-the-top pass from Manyisa, and blasted it past Toure.
In the last fifteen minutes Pirates continued to entertain the crowd, with players like Rakhale, Manyisa and substitute Thabo Qalinge’s showmanship coming to the fore, as they ran out comfortable winners. — Sport 24
