The Buccaneers lost 1-0 to Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel in the second leg of the 2015 Final on Sunday handing the North Africans a 2-1 aggregate win, but Pirates’ road to the Final was impressive and here are the five matches where they really showed their class.
CF Mounana 2-2 Pirates
For the second round, Eric Tinkler’s men made their way to Gabon to face CF Mounana on April 19 at Augustin Monedan Stadium. Pirates were losing 1-0 at the break and to make matters worse, six minutes after the restart Ayanda Gcaba was booked for a foul in the box and Mounana converted from the spot to make it 2-0. However, Pirates rallied back and pull one back in the 70th minute through Lehlohonolo Majoro and Thabo Rakhale found the equaliser at the death. They finished off the job at home two weeks later with Kermit Erasmus scoring a hattrick for a 3-0 win and Pirates were in the third round.
Pirates 4-1 AS Kaloum
The Soweto side met Guinean outfit As Kaloum in the third round and after winning 2-0 away from home, it became a walk in the park for the Buccaneers at Bidvest Stadium on June 6. The likes of Sifiso Myeni turned on the ‘Kasi style’ as the As Kaloum players chased after shadows. Pirates eventually won 4-1 to give them a 6-1 aggregate win and they had sent a strong message for the group stage.
AC Leopards 0-1 Pirates
In September 2013 during their CAF Champions League campaign, Pirates drew 0-0 with AC Leopards at home and lost 1-0 away at Denis Sassou Nguesso Stadium during the group stage. So when they travelled for their first Confederation Cup group stage match at Leopards, at the same venue, Pirates weren’t expected to draw, let alone win. However, it was sweet revenge for Pirates as they won 1-0 on June 27 with Happy Jele finding the winner in the 57th minute.
CS Sfaxien 0-1 Pirates
The Tunisian side has won three CAF Confederation Cup titles in 2007, 2008 and 2013, so it goes without saying that when Pirates made the trip to North Africa the home side was expected to win on July 26 at Stade Taieb Mhiri Stadium. However, it turned out differently. The two sides were deadlocked at halftime, but just two minutes into the second half Rakhale made a tackle before racing ahead and beating Rami Jridi with a finish of the highest order for a 1-0 unexpected win. The home crowd was stunned.
Al Ahly 3-4 Pirates
The Egyptians beat Pirates 3-1 on aggregate in the final of the CAF Champions League two years ago and they expected more of the same in the semi-final clash but Pirates had other ideas. Bucs were leading 1-0 from the first leg that was played on September 26. In the second leg on October 4, the ‘Red Devils’ took the lead just before the interval with Gabonese striker Malick Evouna scoring and at that point, it was anybody’s game. Evouna was not done yet as he scored a second in the 53rd minute and it looked all over for Pirates. Tinkler replaced Lehlohonolo Majoro with Kermit Erasmus, while Rakhale came on for Myeni in the 56th minute and barely a minute later, Erasmus pulled one back for a Pirates advantage at 2-2 on aggregate. It was game on. Al Ahly went on the offensive as they tried to get back into the game, but they exposed their defence. Pirates took their chances through Thamsanqa Gabuza, Thabo Matlaba and Rakhale rounded off the scoring as Bucs emerged victorious and they were in the final. After the defeat in their own backyard, Al Ahly reportedly fired their coach.
