Orlando Pirates have won their CAF Champions League Group C unbeaten after their 2-1 win over champions Al Ahly at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday evening.
Both games secured progression from the group before a ball was kicked in the capital of Egypt on Saturday, with CR Belouizdad and Stade d’Abidjan already eliminated from the competition.
But the group winner spot was up for grabs and it was a different Pirates to what many are accustomed to under Jose Riveiro with a pragmatic approach against the record 11-time winners.
But they took the lead after 53 minutes, when star playmaker Relebohile Mofokeng slotted the ball past Mostafa Shobier after a kind deflection saw the ball reach him inside the area.
However, the home side pushed forward against a stubborn Pirates defence, which eventually cracked as Deon Hotto misplaced a pass on an attack before a clinical counter, seeing substitute Hussein El Shahat slotting the ball over an onrushing Sipho Chaine and into an empty net.
But Riveiro’s changes of Tshegofatso Mabasa and Gilberto as late substitutes created the late winner in the 83rd minute as the Angola winger bundled home Mabasa’s header that hit the crossbar and was right on the goal line.
The win secured top spot with 14 points for the Buccaneers, four wins and two draws from their six games – in their first group-stage participation since the 2018/19 season.