Orlando Pirates suffered a 1-0 loss to Simba SC in their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal first-leg clash in Dar Es Salaam on Sunday.
Pirates made two changes from the draw with Baroka, as Innocent Maela took the place of the injured Paseka Mako and Kwame Peprah was recalled at the expense of Tshegofatso Mabasa, meanwhile, Bernard Morrison started against his former side for Simba.
The Buccaneers were forced to absorb the pressure in the opening exchanges but Peprah had a good chance to give them the lead in the tenth minute after going through on goal from a transition attack but his shot across goal deflected just wide.
The Soweto giants remained deep in their own half, denying Simba spaces behind the defence and on the half-hour mark Peprah tried to catch goalkeeper Aishi Manula off his line with a lobbed effort that did not find the target.
Simba were dictating terms but only came close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of halftime after Morrison' low curler forced a fine save out of shot-stopper Richard Ofori.
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There was not much to separate the side in the early stages of the second stanza and the game came to life in the 65th minute after the Reds of Msimbazi were awarded a penalty for sliding challenge on Morrison by Happy Jele in the box, with the on-field decision upheld by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Shomani Kapombe stepped up to take the spot-kick for Simba and sent Ofori the wrong way with a side-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Pirates made a double change for fresh legs in the last quarter of an hour, as Abel Mabaso replaced Siphesihle Ndlovu in midfield and Peprah made way for Zakhele Lepasa upfront.
The game was on the edge in the dying minutes, with Simba opening the game up by searching for the second goal but neither side could create chances and the Tanzanian giants held on to a 1-0 win to take to the second-leg in a week's time at Orlando Stadium.
Confirmed line-ups:
Pirates: Ofori, Jele, Maela, Nyauza, Shandu, Ndlovu, Mosele, Monare, Hotto, Dlamini, Peprah
Subs: Mpontshane, Hlatshwayo, Makaringe, Mabaso, Mntambo, Sam, Motshwari, Lorch, Lepasa