Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates moved to the top of Group C in the CAF Champions League despite being held 1-1 by hosts Stade d’Abidjan at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday night.
Pirates will be disappointed at a second draw from three group stage matches thus far, having dominated most of this match – especially in the first half – only for Evidence Makgopa’s opening goal to be cancelled out early in the second stanza by Ousmane Meite.
The Soweto Giants top Group C on five points, while Abidjan are bottom on one point. Al Ahly and CR Beluizdad occupy second and third respectively, and will meet in their catch-up match next weekend, due to the former’s participation in the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.
Pirates bossed the game from the early minutes and created numerous half-chances through the course of the first stanza, though the likes of Evidence Makgopa, Deon Hotto, Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng were unable to capitalise.
However, in injury time before the interval, Mofokeng was tripped up by Mansou Kouakou in the 18-yard area and the visitors were awarded a penalty. Makgopa struck home from 12 yards to see Pirates 1-0 up at the break.
Stade d’Abidjan were much improved in the second half and levelled the game at 1-1 in the 53rd minute. A free kick was headed back across goal by Adama Traore and Ousmane Meite nodded home from close range via the underside of the crossbar.
The Buccaneers should have reclaimed the lead five minutes later when Makgopa sprung the offside trap and was faced with only Drissa Bamba to beat, but the goalkeeper made a fine save.
The South African side looked the likelier scorers in the final quarter of the match, especially with Kabelo Dlamini, Tshegofatso Mabasa and Gilberto having boosted their attacking impetus, but ultimately the match closed out at 1-1.
The teams will have their return match early in 2025, with Pirates hosting Stade d’Abidjan in Soweto on the weekend of 3-5 January.
Meanwhile homeless Sudanese club Al Hilal maintained a perfect CAF Champions League Group A record on Saturday with a 1-0 victory at Algerian rivals Mouloudia Alger.
Elsewhere, AS FAR and Maniema Union shared the spoils in Group B after playing out to a 1-1 draw the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte in Kinshasa.
The match took a turn in the 37th minute when Maniema Union took the lead. A well-worked corner by Agee Basiala found Exaucia Moanda at the edge of the six-yard box.
Moanda, showing great composure, dispatched a right-footed strike into the back of the net, giving the home side a deserved advantage heading into the break.
Esperance delivered a commanding performance to defeat Pyramids 2-0 in Radès, climbing to the top of Group D.
The Tunisians were clinical in the first half, with Youcef Belaïli opening the scoring in the 36th minute with a sublime finish.
Just before halftime, Elias Mokwana doubled the lead following a swift counterattack.
With seven points, Espérance leads Group D, while Pyramids are second with four points, ahead of Sunday’s clash between Sagrada Esperança and Djoliba.