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Cape Town - Sport24's readers have gone crazy after Pirates qualified for the Champions League final on the away goals rule against Esperance.
Orlando Pirates reached the CAF Champions League final 18 years after their only previous appearance thanks to a 1-1 draw at Esperance of Tunisia on Saturday that saw them advance on the away goals rule.
Defender Rooi Mahamutsa scored with a powerful swivelling header from a corner in the 54th minute at the Rades Stadium after the first leg ended 0-0 in Soweto a fortnight ago.
Although Esperance equalised within two minutes through Iheb Msakni, they couldn't get the all-important second goal to reach the final for a fourth successive year.
In the second semi-final, Egyptian team Al-Ahly won after winning a penalty shoot-out 7-6 against Cameroonian team Coton Sport in the Red Sea resort El-Gouna.
Orlando Pirates will face Al Ahly in the final held over two legs played home (November 2, Orlando Stadium, kick-off at 15:00 and away (November 9, Cairo, kick-off at 20:00).
This is what Sport24 readers had to say:
"The trophy is now firmly in the hands of Orlando Pirates. Trully it is theirs to lose. Getting through TP Mazembe, Zamalek, Al Ahly and Esperance is no mean feat. These are all former African Champions. Any of the games against these teams could have easily been a final. Well done Buccaneers. The whole nation is proud." - Siyanda Mda
"Buccaneers for keeps.black and white is dynamite.Sharks and Pirates." - Michael Pienaar
"Happy People siyanibongela! I hope in the finals you'll be the happiest people!" - Siphiwe Khumalo
"I like it 4 the Pirates!..Buccaneer 4 life #Black is Back!!!..." - Windy Zitha
"Well done boys u made us proud!!!" - Sivivatu Rudeboy Rudolph
"Guys U were outstanding tonite so u deserved it." - Bongani Bongani
"Shapa bakaneya shapa." - Gabriel Marope
"Dankie Piratz'" - Sir Thabo Mogadima
"2nd star loading#upthebucs." - Rejoice Mbuyane
"Nywe nywe bucs won't win nywe nywe bucs will luz in Tunisia hahahaha that 1-1 draw was dedicated to Bucs haters. Pirates: most hated team in SA without a valid reason! Do Mzantsi proud bucaneers." - Vdot Mhlayizi Ndlovu
"Well done bucs. U must work on scoring opportunities." - Xetshulwayo Khoza
"Pride of the Nation. #BlackIsBack pic.twitter.com/lWu7lh90d6." - Orlando Pirates official Twitter
"Oh! such good news for the Orlando Pirates...I hope they go on and win the finals and to top it all, they qialified using home grown players..Up The Bucs!!!" - Melita Crow
"well done bhakania,keep on fighting boys,we are ralling behind you." - Sithembele Ndlovu
"Well done Bucs. You made the country proud indeed. Few gave you a chance to come out alive in Tunisia considering Esperance's impressive record at home and their hostile and intimidating fans but against all odds you got the result. Well done gents, now go out there and do the country and the Southern african region proud in the final." - Clayton K Dube
"Time to add another Star on our jerseys."Once A Pirate,Always a Pirate". Anyone wants to argue to who is the Greatest Football Club in South Africa." - Mohammed Rafeek Gulam
"Proud of my boyz! Reaching 4 that second star**" - Linky Moralo
"Up the Bucks u real make RSA proud!" -Mchenge Dlangamandla Nxes
Orlando Pirates celebrate after progressing to the final of the Champions League. (Gallo Images)
Orlando Pirates reached the CAF Champions League final 18 years after their only previous appearance thanks to a 1-1 draw at Esperance of Tunisia on Saturday that saw them advance on the away goals rule.
Defender Rooi Mahamutsa scored with a powerful swivelling header from a corner in the 54th minute at the Rades Stadium after the first leg ended 0-0 in Soweto a fortnight ago.
Although Esperance equalised within two minutes through Iheb Msakni, they couldn't get the all-important second goal to reach the final for a fourth successive year.
In the second semi-final, Egyptian team Al-Ahly won after winning a penalty shoot-out 7-6 against Cameroonian team Coton Sport in the Red Sea resort El-Gouna.
Orlando Pirates will face Al Ahly in the final held over two legs played home (November 2, Orlando Stadium, kick-off at 15:00 and away (November 9, Cairo, kick-off at 20:00).
This is what Sport24 readers had to say:
"The trophy is now firmly in the hands of Orlando Pirates. Trully it is theirs to lose. Getting through TP Mazembe, Zamalek, Al Ahly and Esperance is no mean feat. These are all former African Champions. Any of the games against these teams could have easily been a final. Well done Buccaneers. The whole nation is proud." - Siyanda Mda
"Buccaneers for keeps.black and white is dynamite.Sharks and Pirates." - Michael Pienaar
"Happy People siyanibongela! I hope in the finals you'll be the happiest people!" - Siphiwe Khumalo
"I like it 4 the Pirates!..Buccaneer 4 life #Black is Back!!!..." - Windy Zitha
"Well done boys u made us proud!!!" - Sivivatu Rudeboy Rudolph
"Guys U were outstanding tonite so u deserved it." - Bongani Bongani
"Shapa bakaneya shapa." - Gabriel Marope
"Dankie Piratz'" - Sir Thabo Mogadima
"2nd star loading#upthebucs." - Rejoice Mbuyane
"Nywe nywe bucs won't win nywe nywe bucs will luz in Tunisia hahahaha that 1-1 draw was dedicated to Bucs haters. Pirates: most hated team in SA without a valid reason! Do Mzantsi proud bucaneers." - Vdot Mhlayizi Ndlovu
"Well done bucs. U must work on scoring opportunities." - Xetshulwayo Khoza
"Pride of the Nation. #BlackIsBack pic.twitter.com/lWu7lh90d6." - Orlando Pirates official Twitter
"Oh! such good news for the Orlando Pirates...I hope they go on and win the finals and to top it all, they qialified using home grown players..Up The Bucs!!!" - Melita Crow
"well done bhakania,keep on fighting boys,we are ralling behind you." - Sithembele Ndlovu
"Well done Bucs. You made the country proud indeed. Few gave you a chance to come out alive in Tunisia considering Esperance's impressive record at home and their hostile and intimidating fans but against all odds you got the result. Well done gents, now go out there and do the country and the Southern african region proud in the final." - Clayton K Dube
"Time to add another Star on our jerseys."Once A Pirate,Always a Pirate". Anyone wants to argue to who is the Greatest Football Club in South Africa." - Mohammed Rafeek Gulam
"Proud of my boyz! Reaching 4 that second star**" - Linky Moralo
"Up the Bucks u real make RSA proud!" -Mchenge Dlangamandla Nxes
Orlando Pirates celebrate after progressing to the final of the Champions League. (Gallo Images)
