CAF Confederations Cup: Orlando Pirates Opens Campaign With Crucial Win Over JS Saoura

• The 1995 African Champions League winners Orlando Pirates kicked off their CAF Confederations Cup campaign with a straightforward victory
• Goals from Happy Jele and Bandile Shandu were enough in a 2-0 win of Algerian side JS Saoura
• The Buccanneers now make a trip in their campaign to Libya next to take on Tripoli's Al-Ittihad

Orlando Pirates got their CAF Confederation Cup group stage campaign to a winning start as they beat JS Saoura of Algeria 2-0 in their opening Group B clash played at Orlando Stadium on Sunday night.

Seven days after the Soweto Giants’ return to the field of play, they were tasked with overcoming the Algerians, who came into the encounter on the back of a five-game unbeaten streak.

As reported on orlandopirates.com, the game got off to a flyer as Bucs keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane was called upon 37 seconds after kick-off, and was perfectly-positioned to hang on to a shot from Aimen Lahmri which was struck from close range.

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It only took the first set piece of the game for there to be a change on the scoreboard, and it was the hosts who provided the goods through skipper Happy Jele, who popped up at the right place at the right time to collect the rebound after Goodman Mosele had been denied by Saoura keeper Zakaria Saidi. With the keeper taken out of the equation, the 35-year-old defender only had to direct the ball into an empty net, which he did without much trouble to make it 1-0 just three minutes in.

Mpontshane displayed superb acrobatic skills in the 16th minute when he flung himself to his left to keep out a powerful volley from the dangerous Belaid Hamidi.

With Saoura aggressively searching for the equaliser, clear-cut chances dried up at the other end with the Buccaneers pinned inside their own half.

A set-piece late in the first half almost brought some joy to the Algerians as the ball was floated into the home side’s penalty area, where Mpontshane needed two attempts at grabbing the ball before averting the danger.

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The next goal came against the run of play with the Buccaneers employing a quick counter before Hotto sent the ball across the face of goal into the path of Shandu, who doubled the lead in the 66th minute.

With their two-goal cushion, game management was required from the hosts, who looked to keep the Algerian inside their own half.

The introduction of Kabelo Dlamini and Zakhele Lepasa ten minutes from the final whistle almost yielded immediate results, with the duo combining well down the middle only for the latter to be beaten to the ball by Saidi.

The day belonged to the hosts in the end, as they overcame some nervy moments throughout the 90 minutes to walk off with all three points on offer.

“Make home ground advantage count”: Former Pirates star Lucky Lekgwathi advises team ahead of JS Saoura match

Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has urged his former side to use playing at home to their advantage when they get their Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup campaign underway on Sunday.

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As reported on Sports Brief, Lekgwathi is arguably the most successful captain at Pirates, guiding them to two successive treble-winning seasons.

Speaking ahead of the Confederation Cup opener, Lekgwathi said that the tournament gets easier after winning the first home game.