Orlando Pirates put in a resolute defensive display to secure a place in the CAF Champions League semi-final where they will take on Egyptian side Pyramids.
Pirates kept Algerian giants MC Alger at bay in the quarter-final second leg tie at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday to force a goalless draw and sail through 1-0 on aggregate.
Jose Riveiro’s team had won the first leg 1-0 in Algiers last Tuesday and came determined to protect what they had, defending well to deny the visitors opportunities.
MC Alger with the best chances
In a first half that had no chances for either side, MC Alger got a sniff on the Pirates goal after Mohamed Saliou Bangoura left Deon Hotto for deal before getting in on goal but Sipho Chaine foiled him before the flag went up on the stroke of halftime.
After the break, Tapelo Xoki tried his chance from distance but could only fire over before Relebohile Mofokeng teed up Evidence Makgopa but the striker was not able to break on the counter before substitute Patrick Maswanganyi fired at the keeper with 14 minutes to go.
In the dying minutes of the game, MC Alger should have found an equaliser when Abdelkader Menezla had a free header in the box but directed it at Chaine while Kipre Tiagori had a glorious opportunity in the 90th minute when he miscued a good chance that he should have fired home.
How does the semis look like?
Substitute Tshegofatso Mabasa had a great opportunity to wrap up the tie for Pirates when he found himself with the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat but hit the post in time added on.
The North Africans then started playacting in an attempt to win a penalty and when they did not get it, they confronted the referee with their substitutes and members of the technical bench coming onto the pitch to protest.
Pirates, however, made sure they sealed a semi-final place for the first time since 2013, when they reached the final and lost, while keeping alive the possibility of an all-South African final.
With Mamelodi Sundowns facing Al Ahly in the other semi-final, Pirates take on another Egyptian side in Pyramids and if both South African teams win, then they will play each other in the decisive match.
