Orlando Pirates and Pyramids FC played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League semi-final at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The contest was dominated by VAR drama, as both teams had goals ruled out by VAR.
Fiston Mayele’s first-half strike and Sodiq Ougola’s late finish were both chalked off for handball in the build-up.
It was also a clash of near misses and tactical discipline, neither side managed to find the breakthrough, leaving everything to play for in next weekend’s second leg in Cairo.
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Orlando Pirates, making their first semi-final appearance since 2013, started brightly and almost took the lead in the 15th minute when Patrick Maswanganyi rattled the post from long range.
Tshegofatso Mabasa and Thalente Mbatha also came close as the hosts probed with intent, but were repeatedly denied by a well-organised Pyramids defence.
Pyramids FC, which was making a debut at this stage of the competition relied on their structured approach and attacking bursts led by Mostafa Fathi and Blati Touré.
Despite enjoying large spells of possession in the second half, they struggled to breach a Pirates backline expertly marshalled by Nkosinathi Sibisi and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
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Substitutions by both sides in the second half, including the introduction of Evidence Makgopa and Ahmed Atef, added attacking options, but neither side could create clear-cut opportunities in the tight, physical encounter.
The result sets up a high-stakes second leg in Cairo, where Pyramids FC will hope to make home advantage count.
But with Pirates’ impressive away form in this year’s campaign, the South Africans have been unbeaten in their last three away games.
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