Pirates and Pyramids reach stalemate in Champions League clash

Orlando Pirates were held to a 0-0 draw by Pyramids FC of Egypt in the first leg of the CAF Champions League at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night.

The draw left the tie wide open ahead of the second leg in Egypt on Friday.

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As expected, Pirates dominated possession early on in the game and they created a lot of goalscoring chances.

The Buccaneers were unlucky not to take the lead in the 15th minute when Patrick Maswanganyi hit the outside of the upright with Ahmed El Shenawy well-beaten.

Five minutes earlier, El Shenawy did well to parry Mbatha’s ferocious long range shot away for a corner kick as the Buccaneers looked for an early goal. From the resultant corner taken by Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshegofatso Mabasa hit the side-netting with a header.  

Pyramids looked to absorb pressure and try to catch Pirates on the counter-attack, but the home side’s defence stood strong.

Maswannganyi almost gifted Pyramids with a chance to score in the 43rd when he tried to use fancy footwork in the middle of the park and was dispossessed. Ibrahim Blati Toure tried to beat Chaine from long range, but the shot went wide.

Pyramids thought they had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Fiston Mayele beat Chaine with a powerful shot, but after consultation with the VAR, the goal was disallowed for an offside. The decision brought some reaction from the visitors’ bench who felt that the goal should have stood.

The teams were locked at 0-0 at the break.

Pirates continued dominating ball possession in the second half and they took the game to the visitors as they look for the opening goal,

A rare mistake at the back by Hotto almost gifted Pyramids with a chance to score in the 58th minute, but Deano Van Rooyen came up with a goal saving block to deny Mostafa Fathi,

Three minutes later, Mayele wasted a glorious chance to put Pyramids in the lead when he sent his free header over the crossbar.

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Pyramids thought they had finally found the opening goal in the 85th minute but again the VAR intervened and the goal was disallowed for a handball.

The game eventually ended in a goalless draw and both teams have all to play for in the second leg in Egypt next Friday.