Orlando Pirates will take a two-goal advantage into their Caf Confederation Cup playoffs game after claiming a 2-0 victory over LPRC Oilers in the first leg on Sunday.
The home side showed their intent early on and produced the first chance of the game after seven minutes when Kelvin Nokuwa fired a shot at goal, but his effort failed to trouble Pirates keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Pirates had a chance of their own in the 11th minute after Terrence Dzvukamanja collected a pass from Ben Motshwari down the left flank before laying the ball off to Deon Hotto, who couldn’t get his shot away as he was tightly marked inside the box.
Paseka Mako kept the scoreline level at 0-0 after 17 minutes when he made a crucial clearance to deny Irvin Gbote, who skillfully made his way into the Pirates box.
The Buccaneers should’ve taken the lead in the 21st minute when Dzvukamanja unleashed a powerful strike, which crashed onto the upright and fell into the path of Tshegofatso Mabasa, whose shot narrowly goes wide of goal.
Mpontshane came to his sides rescue in the 29th minute when he made a comfortable save to deal with the Oilers attack.
The Oilers nearly made it 1-0 in the 37th minute when Randy Dukuly found space to shoot but the attacker could only fire his effort into the side netting.
Pirates eventually took the lead in the 43rd minute when Mabasa calmly slotted the ball home after latching on to an inch-perfect pass from Dzvukamanja as the game went into the half-time break.
Mpontshane was called into action early in the second half when he was forced into making a save but the Pirates keeper was untroubled by the effort.
The Buccaneers made their first substitution a few minutes after the 50th minute as Bongani Sam came on to replace Dzvukamanja.
The Oilers had a chance just after the half-hour mark when Brandon Dedah peeled away Mngonyama, but Mpontshane rushed off his line in time to stop a potential shot at goal.
Pirates then opted to make a double substitution three minutes later as Mabasa and Motshwari made way for Innocent Maela and Thabang Monare before they replaced Mntambo with Collins Makgaka.
The Oilers had their best chance of the game after 82 minutes but Mpontshane made a spectacular save to deny the home side a scoring opportunity.
Mhango should’ve put the game to bed three minutes later but the Pirates striker blazed his set-piece inches wide of the target.
Pirates eventually put the game to bed in stoppage time when Makaringe headed the ball home from close range after some fine work down the left flank from Sam to walk away with the victory away from home.
