Orlando Pirates have missed out on an opportunity to secure a CAF Champions League final spot following a 3-2 defeat by Pyramids FC in the semi-final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Friday.
The two teams came into the second leg after a 0-0 draw at the FNB Stadium last Saturday, which meant the Betway Premiership side needed a scoring draw to proceed to the final.
There was nothing much to write home about in terms of chances created in the game until five minutes before the half-time break. Bafana Bafana winger Relebohile Mofokeng broke the deadlock four minutes before the break after a volley inside the 18-yard box.
FISTON MAYELE SCORES A BRACE TO DENY ORLANDO PIRATES A SPOT IN THE FINAL
The visitors thought they would go into the break with the lead until striker Fiston Mayele decided otherwise. Mayele found the back of the net for the home side on the stroke of half-time. But Pyramids still needed to score one more goal to go through to the final.
Pyramids came out firing as Bucs goalie Sipho Chaine produced a brilliant save four minutes into the second half after a free-kick by Mostafa Fathi.
Moments later, Mohau Nkota launched a long-range shot which beat Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
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The home side brought in former Stoke City FC striker Ramadan Sobhi, who quickly made an impact. The 28-year-old scored an equaliser for the Egyptian side with literally his first touch. Nkota launched another shot outside the 18-yard box but went over the bar.
The Buccaneers breathed a sigh of relief 10 minutes from time after striker Evidence Mokgopa saved a goal-bound header from Fiston Mayele.
Thalente Mbatha nearly scored the third for Pirates with 15 minutes remaining, but his shot missed the target. Chaine produced another save with seven minutes to go before Mayele broke the Buccaneers’ hearts with a goal a minute later.
Pyramids will now meet Mamelodi Sundowns in a two-legged final on 24 May and 1 June 2025.
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