Sealing their place in the CAF Confederation Cup semifinals allows Orlando Pirates to go to their last group stage game against Zamalek in Cairo in a position to push to be top of Group B.
With an impressive fourth win from five group stage games, 2-0 against Congolese club AC Leopards at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night, 2013 Champions League finalists Pirates booked their place in a second continental semifinal in three years.
Bucs want to beat Zamalek on September 12 to ensure they win the group, securing an advantageous away match first in the two-legged semifinal.
"Tonight was important for us to qualify," Pirates coach Eric Tinkler said after the Leopards game.
"The performance was more about getting the result than the way we played. You would have noticed it wasn't really the brand of football we usually present. "But we felt it was going to be an extremely tactical game and it was vital we remained disciplined and tried to collect the three points. Going to Zamalek, it makes the task a lot easier because we have already qualified and we stand a chance of finishing top of the group."
In a Confed Cup that, due to circumstances, has resembled the more prestigious Champions League for the quality of the clubs that have competed in it, Al Ahly and Tunisian club Etoile Du Sahel are the front-runners to reach the semis from Group A.
Egyptian giants Ahly were Pirates' final opponents in 2013. Tinkler said he has no preference for who Pirates meet in the semis.
"The players have been keen to meet Al Ahly again. But right now I'm not concerned who we meet. Every team is good in this competition and obviously to win you have got to beat everybody."
It was not a flawless performance from Bucs.
They created enough chances to more than deserve their goals from Mpho Makola in the 35th minute and Oupa Manyisa in the 87th. Defensively, at times Bucs allowed Leopards too much space, and in the first half a stray pass from defender Rooi Mahamutsa almost allowed Tychique Kalema through to score.
Bucs target Zamalek, Ahly
Sealing their place in the CAF Confederation Cup semifinals allows Orlando Pirates to go to their last group stage game against Zamalek in Cairo in a position to push to be top of Group B.
With an impressive fourth win from five group stage games, 2-0 against Congolese club AC Leopards at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night, 2013 Champions League finalists Pirates booked their place in a second continental semifinal in three years.
Bucs want to beat Zamalek on September 12 to ensure they win the group, securing an advantageous away match first in the two-legged semifinal.
"Tonight was important for us to qualify," Pirates coach Eric Tinkler said after the Leopards game.
"The performance was more about getting the result than the way we played. You would have noticed it wasn't really the brand of football we usually present. "But we felt it was going to be an extremely tactical game and it was vital we remained disciplined and tried to collect the three points. Going to Zamalek, it makes the task a lot easier because we have already qualified and we stand a chance of finishing top of the group."
In a Confed Cup that, due to circumstances, has resembled the more prestigious Champions League for the quality of the clubs that have competed in it, Al Ahly and Tunisian club Etoile Du Sahel are the front-runners to reach the semis from Group A.
Egyptian giants Ahly were Pirates' final opponents in 2013. Tinkler said he has no preference for who Pirates meet in the semis.
"The players have been keen to meet Al Ahly again. But right now I'm not concerned who we meet. Every team is good in this competition and obviously to win you have got to beat everybody."
It was not a flawless performance from Bucs.
They created enough chances to more than deserve their goals from Mpho Makola in the 35th minute and Oupa Manyisa in the 87th. Defensively, at times Bucs allowed Leopards too much space, and in the first half a stray pass from defender Rooi Mahamutsa almost allowed Tychique Kalema through to score.
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