Tshepang Moremi and Yanela Mbuthuma both scored braces to help Orlando Pirates progress to the next round of the CAF Champions League following their 4-0 win over Lioli FC in the tournament’s first preliminary round second-leg clash on Saturday afternoon at the Orlando Stadium.
The Buccaneers advance to the next phase with a 7-0 aggregate scoreline.
The Soweto giants came into this tie with a 3-0 score advantage after defeating the Lesotho side at Free State Stadium in the first leg last weekend. Tshegofatso Mabasa‘s brace and a late goal from Oswin Appollis were enough to see Pirates walk away victorious.
The showdown got off to a cagey start, with the two sides trying to figure out each other’s game plan. In the 23rd minute, Pirates had a counterattack with Nkosikhona Ndaba finding Sipho Mbule, whose shot went wide.
The hosts began to frustrate the visitors as they sought to break the deadlock. Finally, in the stoppage time of the first half, Moremi netted the first goal of the day to put Pirates in front.
ORLANDO PIRATES LEADING LIOLI FC AT HALF-TIME BREAK
The game went into the half-time break with Pirates leading the Lesotho champions 1-0.
The second half continued to deliver exciting, and a flow of goal attempts from the Pirates, who never slowed down. The visitors struggled to control ball possession and were unable to penetrate a strong Pirates defence.
Mbuthuma made sure he also shone on the day as he scored a brace in the space of two minutes [in the 78th and 80th minutes] in the second half.
As a result, Pirates have reached the second preliminary of the Champions League with a 7-0 win on aggregate against Lioli.
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