Orlando Pirates will look to complete the job against Namibia’s African Stars when the sides meet at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, 23 October with a place in the CAF Champions League group stage at stake.
The Buccaneers head into the second leg with a slender advantage after Tshepang Moremi scored in the 75th minute to secure a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Gaborone.
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The result puts the Soweto giants in a strong position, but they will need another disciplined performance to secure progression to the next stage of the continental competition.
Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00, with Orlando Pirates hoping to make home advantage count in the decisive encounter.
ORLANDO Pirates hold the advantage
The two sides have developed a history of tight encounters, with Friday’s fixture marking their fourth meeting.
Their three previous matches have produced just two goals, both scored by Orlando Pirates. The Buccaneers also edged their 2018/19 CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie 1-0 on aggregate.
Justin Shonga scored in the away leg after the first meeting in Soweto ended goalless.
That history suggests another closely contested encounter could be on the cards, particularly with African Stars needing to overturn the first-leg deficit.
Orlando Pirates will advance with a win or a draw. If African Stars win by one goal, the aggregate score will be level and the tie will go to a penalty shootout. A victory by two or more goals would send the Namibian side through.
Defensive discipline could prove decisive
Orlando Pirates will take confidence from their defensive record at Orlando Amstel Arena, where they have conceded just twice this season.
Durban City scored against them in the MTN8, while La Cure Waves also found the net in the previous round of the CAF Champions League.
Maintaining that defensive solidity will be important against an African Stars side that showed its ability to frustrate Orlando Pirates for much of the opening leg.
The visitors held firm for 75 minutes in Gaborone before Moremi found the breakthrough. They will need another organised display in Johannesburg, alongside a greater attacking threat, if they are to keep their continental campaign alive.
African Stars have already shown they can recover from a difficult position. In the previous round, they overturned a 3-1 first-leg defeat to Gabonese side AS Mangasport by winning the return match 2-0.
Goals from Lawrence Doaseb and Liam April levelled the aggregate score and helped the Namibian side progress on away goals.
That comeback offers a reminder that Orlando Pirates cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
Buccaneers aiming to finish the job
Orlando Pirates have also demonstrated their ability to respond under pressure in this season’s competition.
After drawing 0-0 away to La Cure Waves, they returned home to claim a 3-1 victory and secure their place in the current round.
They will now aim to build on their first-leg advantage and avoid giving African Stars an opportunity to force their way back into the tie.
The Buccaneers must balance protecting their lead with the need to remain a threat going forward. African Stars, meanwhile, will have to find a way past a defence that has been difficult to breach at home.
With so little separating the teams, patience, defensive organisation and clinical finishing could determine which side advances.
Orlando Pirates vs African Stars: TV and tickets
The second-leg encounter will take place at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.
- Kick-off: 20:00
- TV: SuperSport PSL and SABC 2
- Tickets: Available online through OpenTickets
Live updates will also be available across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms.
The Buccaneers have secured the first-leg advantage. They now need to turn it into progression and move one step closer to the CAF Champions League group stage.
Will Orlando Pirates get the job done tonight?
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