PIRATES SEND JWANENG ORBITING INTO THE GALAXY

Bucs win 2-0 to set up sweet revenge against Botswana rivals.

Now that was more like it. Of course, it would be a bit premature to declare Orlando Pirates as good as in the group stages of the CAF Champions League.

But at 2-0 up over a Jwaneng Galaxy that has to visit the slaughterhouse that is Orlando Stadium, surely the smart money has to be on the Buccaneers contesting the round-robin stage of the continent’s premier club knockout competition.

Tshegofatso Mabasa and Deon Hotto found the net on either side of the halftime mark as Pirates took a giant step towards gaining sweet revenge for last year’s embarrassing elimination by the team from Botswana. Galaxy beat Pirates via the shoot-out from the penalty spot at his very same second preliminary round stage of the competition in 2023, and when the two teams were drawn together, excitement abounded in both countries.

Pirates had clearly underestimated their opponents last time around, with Coach Jose Riveiro fielding a weakened team in the first leg, which they lost 1-0. Their victory by a similar scoreline meant the match had to be decided on spot-kicks, and Jwaneng reigned supreme.

At a Gaborone Stadium packed to the rafters yesterday, the Spaniard took no chances as he put out a strong starting line-up, and though their hosts kept them at bay for most of the initial 45 minutes, Pirates always looked the most dangerous.

They eventually found the net during time added on for stoppages in the first half, Mabasa smashing home a volley from inside the box after impressive work by Relebohle Mofokeng saw the Galaxy defence half clearing the ball.

Expectedly, Galaxy had to make the play after halftime, and the introduction of Gilbert Baruti saw them asking questions of the Buccaneers, for whom captain Olisa Ndah was solid in the heart of the defence. The Nigerian cleared just about every long ball the hosts threw at Pirates and even when Galaxy went low, they found him uncompromising — Ndah making a timely intervention on 53 minutes as the opposition threatened to equalise.

Riveiro then made a change that saw Mofokeng going off and defender Nkosinathi Sibisi coming on for a change in formation as Pirates now played with three central defenders. The move unleashed Deon Hotto from the more defensive duties he had been playing until then, and the Namibian was thus able to make forays into the opposition half.

On one of those, he ran up on the left, gave the ball to Tito Maswanganyi, and continued with his run into the box to receive a sublime return pass and only needed to smash it hard with his left foot into the net.

Now 2-0 up and with under a quarter-hour left, Pirates could simply play for time in the confidence that they should be able to protect that lead if not add to it when they host Galaxy at Orlando Stadium this coming weekend.

But Galaxy tried their best to get something out of the match, and they were unlucky not to be given a penalty kick immediately after Hotto’s goal. Sibisi appeared to hack an opponent just inside the box, but the referee waved play on.

Then on 89 minutes, Thabang Sesiyi failed to strike the ball cleanly from inside the box, and his tame shot was easy for Chaine to claim when a powerful shot could have earned the home side a consolation goal to give them hope for the second leg.

Now as it stands, you’ve got to say Pirates will serve out revenge on Galaxy and progress to the group stage.