Orlando Pirates come off short in Jwaneng Galaxy CAFCL battle

Gaborone National stadium in Botswana hosted the Jwaneng Galaxy vs Orlando Pirates CAF Champions League second round preliminary first leg clash on Sunday afternoon.

Following Mamelodi Sundowns‘ routing of Bumamuru days ago, the Buccaneers were expected to turn on the style like their fierce league rivals did.

As a matter of fact, Orlando Pirates were hot favourites ahead of kick-off based on current form but fell to a shocking 1-0 defeat to Jwaneng Galaxy in a packed stadium in Gaborone.

☠️ FT || @jwanenggalaxy 1 – 0 @orlandopirates

⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#Matchday #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/4VoxrhhgZG

— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) September 17, 2023

The home side clinically and tactically controlled some large section of the game and a Daniel Msendami's goal condemned the CAF Champions League title hopefuls to a narrow defeat.

Let's delve into the game's summary!

Jwaneng Galaxy ahead before the break

Right from the blast of the whistle, Jwaneng Galaxy made their intent known. As early as the second minute, Pirates were under pressure from the home side.

Striker Thabang Sesinyi charged in but narrowed a decent chance wide off the target inside the second minute.

Jwaneng was at it again inside the 16th minute as a through ball from the midfield picked apart Pirates defense, however, Ofori rushed out to gather the ball just in time before Sesinyi pounced clean on goal.

Pirates did try to come to terms of what's going on as they gathered control and dictated the game of their own, but neither side did enough to trouble each other's goalkeeper as time closed down to half-time.

Nonetheless, in the first minute of added time, Morena Ramoreboli's team took the lead to stun the visitors who had been second-best in the half!

Jwaneng Galaxy went into the break with a 1-0 advantage with their home support fully behind them.

Jwaneng Galaxy emerged victorious

The second half began in like fashion as the Botswana side decided not to rest on their lead.

Meanwhile Jose Riveiro's side fought to claw themselves back into the game. As their quest entered full throttle, Jwaneng could have dealt them a second blow as they doubled their lead in the 59th minute but the goal was later cancelled.

Pirates made changes to try and get a crucial away goal, but their efforts failed to yield fruits as time ticked fast against their desires with every mustered attack coming off short as the sea of white shirts defended deeply to see out an important win for Jwaneng.

The reverse fixture will take place in a fortnight and that clash promises to be a cracking one for Orlando Pirates who will fight to overturn a 1-0 deficit and advance into the CAF Champions League group stage.