Enyimba Falls To Orlando Pirates In CAF Champions League
The Orlando Pirates claimed its first win in Group A after scoring in the 89th minute to hand Enyimba a 2-1 defeat in their CAF Confederation Cup match at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In wet and slippery conditions, the Pirates started off the stronger side with Dean Hotto and Onassis Mntambo causing all sorts of danger to Enyimba’s defence. Mntambo had several shots at goal, with the closest being in the 25th minute when he tried his luck from range. The ball went just wide of the goal.
The South African side took the lead after 27 minutes when Hotto scored with an audacious back-heel. Enyimba keeper John Noble had punched a cross into Mntambo’s path, and the striker nodded the ball down for Hotto who scored.
Enyimba were not going down without a fight and on the half hour mark they came close. Austin Oladapo saw his freekick creep just inches over the bar. Two minutes later, the Nigerian side quickly turned defense into offense, but Iwualu Emmanuel’s curling shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
They were handed a lifeline back into the game at the stroke of halftime when goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane fouled Iwualu inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Oladapo stepped up to calmly fire the ball into the net.
Pirates came back after the break determined to get its lead back and they thought they had the opportunity for the second with a 76th minute penalty. Substitute Gabadinho Mhango was taken down inside the box barely a minute after coming on.
However, John Mabasa saw his penalty go begging as he slid and hit the ball against his right foot as it skied over the bar.
The Pirates did not give up the fight and were rewarded in the 89th minute. Hotto crossed the ball from a corner and Mabasa met the ball with a powerful header to give the South Africans the lead and guarantee all three points at home.
Mabasa made amends for the penalty miss earlier in the game, and kept the Buccaneers hopes of reaching the quarter finals of the CAF Champions League alive.
The Orlando Pirates move to four points in Group A, while Enyimba are second with three points. Al Ahly are in third after beating ES Setif 1-0 at home. Serif are bottom with one point.
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