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Pirates win does nation proud

Housam Mohamed Ashour and Thasanqua Aubrey Gabuza of Orlando Pirates during the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup Semi Final. Picture Credit: Gallo Images
Housam Mohamed Ashour and Thasanqua Aubrey Gabuza of Orlando Pirates during the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup Semi Final. Picture Credit: Gallo Images

Orlando Pirates showed all the grit and fight that had taken them to the semifinals, handing Al Ahly a humiliating 4-3 home defeat at Suez Stadium last night.

The Buccaneers progressed to the CAF Confederation Cup final with a 5-3 on aggregate.

Gabonese striker Malick Evouna scored in first-half injury time, then again eight minutes after the break as Bucs appeared to be losing control of the tie.

But substitute Kermit Erasmus put Bucs back ahead on away goals in the 57th, moments after replacing Lehohonolo Majoro. Thamsanqa Gabuza scored a deflected second in the 75th and Thabo Matlaba a third in the 87th.

Amr Gamal pulled one back for Ahly in injury time. But Thabo Rakhale produced a fine finish to earn the away victory.

Pirates will meet Etoile du Sahel in the two-legged final late next month. The Tunisian club withstood a charge from Zamalek in Saturday's second leg in Cairo, losing 3-0, which was enough to go through 5-4 on aggregate.

Al Ahly coach Fathi Mabrouk made changes that strengthened his side from the first leg where they lost 1-0 in Soweto.

The Red Devils had key right-back Basem Ali back from suspension. Mabrouk brought in Evouna as a second striker to partner Ghanaian John Antwi.

With a ban on fans in Egypt due to stadium violence and the tense political situation in the country, Ahly's home support was limited to 2000 supporters.

But it was Pirates who at one stage appeared intent on undermining any advantage the near-empty stadium might have, sloppily conceding Evouna's brace either side of the break.

After Bucs held their own in most of the first half, in injury time Evouna beat offside to a chip from Abdallah Said, took a touch to the right past goalkeeper Felipe Ovono and finished into an open goal.

The Bucs defence opened again after the break as Moamen Zakaria's pass fed Evouna through the middle, the striker attempting to chip to the right of Ovono, but the effort going wide.

Then Ahly took the lead with Pirates pushing forward, keeper Sherif Ekramy's kick found Zakaria free down the right, with just Thabo Matlaba back-pedalling for Bucs in defence.

With the tie apparently slipping away from Pirates, the introduction of Erasmus for Majoro halted a slide. Fellow substitute Rakhale's cross was half-cleared as far as Erasmus, the striker curling a classy finish to the right of Ekramy. Then Gabuza went on a trademark canter down the middle, his shot looping past a stranded Ekramy.

Later the livewire Matlaba worked himself free and finished low past Ekramy. Gamal and Rakahle's strikes made for a semifinal goal-fest.

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