Matlaba puts Bucs back in the game

A last minute equaliser by Orlando Pirates’ Thabo Matlaba put the Buccaneers back into the game during the first leg of the CAF Champions League final against Egyptian giants, Al Ahly.

Both played to a 1-all draw in a game played at Orlando Stadium last week.

The away goal conceded to Ahly means a 0-0 draw will be enough for the Red Devils to lift their eighth Champions League trophy.

Pirates need a 1-1 draw to go to penalties, while a win or any score draw from 2-2 higher will bring the trophy back to Bucs’ cabinet.

The Buccaneers beat Ahly 3-0 away in the group stages.

The first match was in front of an empty stadium where Bucs won the 3-0 score.

The 1-all draw puts Al Ahly in a commanding position ahead of the second leg in Eygpt on Sunday, as they have an away goal.

Ahly are chasing their eighth Champions League title in the process while Bucs will be chasing their second title.Giving Bucs some hope is that they have dominated Ahly in three matches, even if they only managed to win one of those.

Since the competition started, Pirates has never lost a game at home and in their eight home matches in this campaign, they have registered fifteen goals and only conceded four.

Their biggest win was when they walloped Zamalek 4-1 in Orlando.

The second leg of the CAF final will be played in Egypt on Sunday.