Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates moved one step closer to the CAF Confederation Cup knockout stages with a 3-0 win over Al-Ahli Benghazi in Group A.
Pirates recalled goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands and Tshegofatso Mabasa as well as Deon Hotto to partner Gabadinho Mhango in the final third.
Al Ahli adopted a defensive approach as they sat back and allowed Pirates to do most of the attacking in the opening proceedings with Fortune Makaringe seeing a lot of the ball in midfield.
The Bucaneers started the game slowly but soon got into their stride‚ culminating with the opening goal courtesy of Ntsikelelo Nyauza in the 26th minute.
Nyauza finished from close range to beat goalkeeper Zuber Ateya and set the Bucs on the way to a comfortable victory in Soweto.
The home side stepped up the pressure and put the visitors and it did not come as a surprise when Pirates increased the lead through Tshegofatso Mabasa.Mabasa benefitted from a Deon Hotto delivery from the corner and his strike took a deflection off Abubakar Milad‚ sneaking its way past Ateya in the 41st minute.
Pirates picked up where they left off in the second period and continued to exert a considerable amount of pressure on the Libyans and it was no surprise when Kabelo Dlamini gave the Bucuneers a 3-0 lead in the 69th minute.
The last goalscoring opportunity of the game fell for Vincent Pule, who was superbly denied by Ateya in stoppage time and the match ended in a 3-0 win in favour of Pirates on the night.
The win took the Buccaneers to the top of the group standings with two matches left and they are now set to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final game on April 15.