Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates progressed to the CAF Confederation Cup play-off round after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over Diables Noirs in the first round second-leg match.
Happy Jele’s first-half goal earned the Buccaneers the victory in a match which was played at Orlando Stadium and they won the tie 1-0 on aggregate with the first-leg encounter having ended in a 0-0 draw in Brazzaville.
Pirates exerted some pressure on Diables from the first whistle and the visitors gave away several set-pieces as they struggled to contain the likes of Jooste, Fortune Makaringe, and Linda Mntambo.
Diables were punished by Jele, who scored with a header from Makaringe’s corner-kick to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute and it was the veteran defender’s second goal in four competitive matches for the Soweto giants.
The Black Devils then began growing into the match after conceding which saw Lorrys Nkolo play a dangerous cross that was heading for the top left corner, but goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane pushed the ball away.
Diables continued to control the match after the restart and Pirates technical team responded by introducing Deon Hotto with the Namibian attacker replacing Bongani Sam, who had been playing in defence.
Hotto injected some pace into the home side’s attack as he set up Linda Mntambo, who was denied by keeper Giscard Mavoungou with Pirates keen to get a two-goal cushion goal against Black Devils.
Pirates will now take part in the play-off round of the Confederation Cup after winning the tie 1-0 on aggregate and they are scheduled to face Royal AM in a PSL game on Thursday.