Orlando Pirates lost their first pre-season friendly against English League One side Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at the Marbella Sports Centre on Friday.
New Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou set up in a 4-3-3 formation, including new signings Sihle Nduli, Sipho Mbule and Tshepang Moreni, while Boitumelo Radiopane was leading the line.
Pirates had the first chance after three minutes when an attempt by Radiopane was cleared off the line by the Bolton defence.
Mbule almost opened the scoring after 35 minutes but his shot from outside the box just missed the target.
But it was Bolton who opened the scoring after Pirates failed to clear a free-kick and Sipho Chaine was caught off his line by Charlie Warren in the 40th minute.
Ouaddou switched out the complete line-up and sent a new XI onto the pitch for the second 45 minutes: Buthelezi, Xoki, Seema, Ndaba, Mashiloane, Selepe, Nemtajela, Kwayiba, Appollis, Makgopa, Mabasa
Bolton, though, came better out of the break and a ball cleared off the line in the 60th minute but they made it 2-0 from the following corner. George Johnston scored at the far post after Buthelezi was caught in traffic in the five-yard box.
There weren’t many other notable opportunities, as Bolton dominated the second half and had little troubles to bring the result home.
