Ruthless Pirates make Al Ahli Benghazi walk the plank

Orlando Pirates have gone about their business on the continent very quietly and have not always attracted the same attention that has accompanied the exploits of Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs in the Caf Champions League.

While the Confederation Cup has always been a bridesmaid event‚ Pirates have put hard work into the competition and continued to fly the SA flag high when they dispatched Libyan side Al Ahli Benghazi 3-0 at Orlando Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Bucs started the game slowly but soon got into their stride‚ culminating with the opening goal courtesy of Ntsikelelo Nyauza in the 26th minute.

Nyauza finished from close range to beat goalkeeper Zuber Ateya and set the Bucs on the way to a comfortable victory in Soweto.

The home side stepped up the pressure and it did not come as a surprise when Pirates increased the lead through Tshegofatso Mabasa.

Mabasa benefitted from a Deon Hotto delivery from the corner and his strike took a deflection off Abubakar Milad‚ sneaking its way past Ateya in the 41st minute.

Pirates picked up where they left off in the second period and continued to exert a considerable amount of pressure on the Libyans. It was no surprise when Kabelo Dlamini gave the Bucs a 3-0 lead in the 69th minute.

Ateya had saved a shot from Mabasa at close range and Dlamini reacted quickly to give the Bucs the goal.