Orlando Pirates faced a challenging end to their pre-season tour in Spain, succumbing to a narrow 3-2 defeat against Qatar’s Al Sadd on Friday evening.
The match, held at the Banus Football Centre in Marbella, was filled with action and provided an early test for the Buccaneers ahead of their upcoming season.
Pirates’ head coach, Jose Riveiro, opted for a different line-up from their previous 1-1 draw against Granada. Goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi was given his first start of the pre-season, hoping to impress.
Al Sadd wasted no time in taking control of the game, exploiting a lapse in Pirates’ defence. Hashim Ali capitalised on the uncertainty at the back to score in the third minute, giving the Qatari side an early 1-0 lead.
However, Pirates quickly responded. In the ninth minute, Kabelo Dlamini’s incisive forward play set up Tshegofatso Mabasa, who finished with aplomb to equalise at 1-1.
Mabasa, last season’s top scorer, doubled his tally just a minute later, expertly curling a loose ball into the top corner to put Pirates ahead 2-1.
Despite being behind, Al Sadd gradually found their rhythm. The Buccaneers controlled much of the first half, with Deon Hotto coming close with a powerful shot that narrowly missed the target.
But the Qatari champions drew level five minutes before half-time when a deflection off Thabiso Sesane deceived Buthelezi, resulting in an own goal to make it 2-2.
The second half saw Riveiro make three changes, introducing Thuso Moleleki, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, and Gilberto in a bid to regain control. Yet, it was Al Sadd who struck again. Pedro Miguel took advantage of more sloppy defending from the Buccaneers, finishing smartly in the 54th minute to restore Al Sadd’s lead at 3-2.
Bucs struggled to find their footing after this setback. Despite enjoying significant possession, especially through the efforts of Patrick Maswanganyi, they couldn’t break down the Al Sadd defence. The Qatari side, on the other hand, continued to press for more goals, with Yusuf Abdelrazaq forcing a save from the young Siyabonga Zulu.
Substitute Gilberto came close to scoring late on, narrowly missing the target with a curling effort. However, Pirates couldn’t find an equaliser, and Al Sadd held on for the 3-2 victory.
As the Pirates conclude their pre-season preparations, they will look to build on the lessons learned from this encounter. The new season promises to be competitive, and the Buccaneers will aim to iron out their defensive frailties while maintaining their attacking prowess.
☠️⚽️🇪🇸FINAL -SCORE☠️⚽️🇪🇸
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) July 19, 2024
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