Orlando Pirates suffer narrow defeat at Simba – 17 April

Shomari Kapombe scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot with just over 20 minutes to go before the game.

The result means Pirates need to win by two clear goals in the return leg next Sunday to advance to the semi-finals of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

Simba started the game like a house on fire with the likes of Bernard Morrison and Peter Banda pulling all the strings in the final third.

However, Pirates were often resolute in their defending, and they protected goalkeeper Richard Ofori well the entire first half.

Simba, backed by almost 60 000 fans at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, knew that they had to up the ante in the second half as the home side.

And they did just that, forcing Pirates to commit a foul inside their own penalty box in the 68th minute as they bombarded their penalty area.

And Kapombe stepped up and sent Ofori the wrong way to give Simba the lead, much to the delight of their fans out in the stands.

Pirates tried to launch a comeback in an attempt to get that away goal which would have blown the tie wide open.

However, it wasn’t to be as Simba held on to their slim lead to register an important win at the end of 90 minutes.

SIMBA SC VS ORLANDO PIRATES: STARTING XI

Simba SC XI: Manula, Morrison, Lwanga, Pascal, Mugalu, Banda, Kapombe, Hussein, Sakho, Mkude, Baka.

Pirates XI: Ofori, Jele, Maela, Nyauza, Shandu, Ndlovu, Mosele, Monare, Hotto, Dlamini, Peprah.

Subs: Mpontshane, Hlatshwayo, Makaringe, Mabaso, Mntambo, Sam, Motshwari, Lorch, Lepasa.