Paseka Mako of Orlando Pirates challenges Percy Tau of Al Ahly during the CAF Champions League 2024/25 match between Orlando Pirates and Al Ahly on the 07 December 2024 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto © Sydney Mahlangu /BackpagePix
Saturday Dec 07, 2024. 17:14
Orlando Pirates had to settle for a share of the spoils in their CAF Champions League clash with Al Ahly after playing out to a 0-0 draw at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday, December 7.
The Red Eagles will be the happier of the two teams to come away from Soweto with a point after Jose Riveiro’s side created by far the better chances without managing to make the breakthrough.
The Buccaneers came into the clash after claiming an impressive 2-1 win over CR Belouizdad in Algiers on November 26, while the defending champions beat Stade d’Abidjan 4-2 in Cairo.
Both teams showed plenty of attacking intent in the first half, but the final ball was lacking for the most part and neither goalkeeper was seriously tested.
Monnapule Saleng began pose a real threat after the half-hour mark and he saw a shot deflected high into the air after being teed up by Makhehlene Makhaula on 35 minutes, with Mohamed El Shenawy taking no chances as he tipped the ball over the crossbar.
Saleng was just inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute when he hit a first-time shot that bounced the wrong side of the right post following good link-up play with Evidence Makgopa.
Relebohile Mofokeng was afforded space to try his luck from range in first-half stoppage time, although his volley sailed high over the goal.
Saleng threatened once again moments after the restart as he latched onto a long ball over the top and flicked it beyond El Shenawy, but Yasser Ibrahim was covering for his goalkeeper and managed to clear the danger.
Thalente Mbatha then came close when he picked up the ball from a poor clearance and curled a shot narrowly past the right post from range with El Shenawy at full stretch.
Sipho Chaine was finally called into action as the visitors carved out two openings in the space of four minutes around the hour mark. However, both attempts were straight at the Pirates goalkeeper.
El Shenawy was relieved to see Mofokeng steer a header straight into his gloves from Deon Hotto’s dangerous delivery from the right on 62 minutes.
Hussein El Shahat almost made a telling impact off the bench when he forced Chaine into a good save with a fierce shot from inside the box on the right in the 85th minute after combining with Percy Tau.
