By Levy Masiteng
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, as Orlando Pirates host St. Éloi Lupopo in the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
The Buccaneers are looking to overturn a 3-0 deficit after suffering a heavy defeat in the first leg in Lubumbashi last Sunday.
While the odds are stacked against them, Pirates have a rich history of producing magic moments in big games.
In the previous round, they netted four unanswered goals against Lesotho champions Lioli at Orlando Stadium, and seven over two legs. But St Eloi Lupopo might prove to be a different kettle of fish.
Key players like Deon Hotto and Tshegofatso Mabasa are likely to feature for Pirates, and their form will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.
After a slow, stumbling start under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou Pirates have turned their season around. They currently lie third on the Betway Premiership table, with six victories from eight games, which gives them 18 points, 3 behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with two games in hand.
They convincingly defended their MTN 8 title by blowing Stellenbosch out of the water with a 3-0 victory after extra time. The loss to St Eloi shattered their momentum and came as a surprise
According to their fans, the team will need to draw on all their experience and skill to overcome the deficit against a Lupopo side that has shown impressive form in the competition.
“We have to win the match, we have to score and score more than what the opponents have on the board,” said the assistant Coach Mandla Ncikazi, in a post on Friday.
While the spirit is there, the dynamics are also clear that Pirates will need to bring their A-game if they are to stand any chance of progressing.
Lupopo, on the other hand, is riding high after its convincing 3-0 win in the first leg. They have been impressive in their away fixtures this season, but have struggled in continental competitions on South African soil.
Despite the daunting task ahead, Pirates fans are confident that their team can pull off a miracle.
“Tomorrow you’re gonna see a ‘Real Madrid typa comeback’ from Orlando Pirates,” said fan Elton Dewee on social media.
Another fan, Loiso Mloiza Mbambe, praised the team’s performance in their previous match and urged them to play with the same intensity.
“I liked how you guys played on Wednesday. that’s how you need to play in all matches until you get used to that way of playing. Pressing at all times and going direct to the goals but in a smart way,” he said in reference to Wednesday night’s 1-0 victory over Polokwane City, where Pirates wasted a number of chances.
The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with Pirates looking to attack and score goals. Lupopo, on the other hand, will be looking to defend solidly and catch Pirates on the counter.
Defeat would mean Pirates fail to make the group stages of the CAF Champion’s League, which would represent ignonimous failure for Pirates, with the draw set to take place in Johannesburg in Early November. Last season, Pirates fell at the semi-final stage of the competition to eventual winners Pyramids.
Will Pirates be able to pull off a miracle and overturn the 3-0 deficit? Or will Lupopo’s momentum prove too much for them to handle? The answer will be revealed on Saturday afternoon at Orlando Stadium.
“I’m signing with them to be their supporter if they can score more than 3 goals without conceding any,” Teboho Mokoena, a Chiefs fan, sarcastically said.
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