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Brazzaville - A single goal from Dimitri Magnoleke Bissiki has severely dented Orlando Pirates hopes of qualification into the semifinals of the CAF Champions League after losing 1-0 to AC Leopards in a Group A match in Congo on Saturday.
The win for Leopards means they go tie on points with Orlando Pirates on seven points, along with Al Ahly who play Zamalek tomorrow. Moreover, they are above them due to their head-to-head record following a 0-0 draw in Orlando in July in the first game.
It was certainly not an eye-catching performance by either team, but the pitch was in poor condition and largely to blame. As a result the match was characterised by some dismal passing and woeful finishing in front of goal.
Pirates had the better of a scrappy opening 45 minutes and really had the best chances of the half.
In the 18th minute a ball over the top saw Lennox Bacela break free-, but he failed to take the chances, hesitating in front of goal and allowing the keeper to rush of his line and get a hand to the ball.
The best chance of the half fell to Bacela midway through the half when he profited from a defensive error to line-up a shot on goal, but missed the target with just the goalkeeper to beat.
The second 45 saw the home side playing the better the football as they applied pressure on the Pirates goal.
They finally made their pressure tell in the 72nd minute after a mistake by goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
A ball into the box was spilled by Meyiwa and fell to Dimitri Bissiki who made no mistake firing the ball into the back of the net, 1-0
Pirates tried to find their way back into the game, but were unable to as they suffered their second defeat in the group.
The win for Leopards means they go tie on points with Orlando Pirates on seven points, along with Al Ahly who play Zamalek tomorrow. Moreover, they are above them due to their head-to-head record following a 0-0 draw in Orlando in July in the first game.
It was certainly not an eye-catching performance by either team, but the pitch was in poor condition and largely to blame. As a result the match was characterised by some dismal passing and woeful finishing in front of goal.
Pirates had the better of a scrappy opening 45 minutes and really had the best chances of the half.
In the 18th minute a ball over the top saw Lennox Bacela break free-, but he failed to take the chances, hesitating in front of goal and allowing the keeper to rush of his line and get a hand to the ball.
The best chance of the half fell to Bacela midway through the half when he profited from a defensive error to line-up a shot on goal, but missed the target with just the goalkeeper to beat.
The second 45 saw the home side playing the better the football as they applied pressure on the Pirates goal.
They finally made their pressure tell in the 72nd minute after a mistake by goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
A ball into the box was spilled by Meyiwa and fell to Dimitri Bissiki who made no mistake firing the ball into the back of the net, 1-0
Pirates tried to find their way back into the game, but were unable to as they suffered their second defeat in the group.
