Orlando Pirates delivered a spirited performance to defeat MC Alger in the first leg of this season’s CAF Champions League quarterfinals.
The South African team secured a 1-0 victory in a match held on Tuesday at the Stade du Juillet 1962 in Algiers, the capital of Algeria.
Youngster Mohau Nkota, who came off the bench, scored the only goal of the game, continuing Orlando Pirates’ impressive run in the tournament this season.
During the first half, the Buccaneers faced significant pressure from the hosts but remained composed and resilient, successfully defending against any threats.
The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Nkota found the net just five minutes after being substituted in.
MC Alger believed they had equalized immediately through their captain, Ayoub Abdellaoui, but the goal was disallowed after the referee determined that Pirates’ goalkeeper Sipho Chaine had been obstructed.
This victory extends Orlando Pirates’ unbeaten streak in the CAF Champions League to 11 games. The two teams will meet again next Wednesday, with the aggregate winner advancing to the semifinals.
