ORLANDO PIRATES (0)
PYRAMIDS (0)
FNB STADIUM - The Ghost and VAR haunted Pyramids as they ensured the Sea Robbers kept their chances of crossing the red sea in Egypt alive to reach the promised land!
Orlando Pirates held Pyramids to a stalemate at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night in the CAF Champions League semi-final first leg.
But if it wasn’t for their supporters - the Ghost - and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) who made life unbearable for the victors, perhaps that wouldn’t be possible.
⏲️ 90' | @orlandopirates 0 v 0 @pyramidsfc
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) April 19, 2025
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#TotalEnergiesCAFCL#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/f42SEeazew
The Ghost cheered them on from start to finish, while VAR disallowed two goals for the visitors due to an offside and hand ball in both halves.
Pirates will take the result as that means a goal away in Egypt next week will serve double purposes, including the away goal advantage.
The dreams of seeing an all-South African final could become a reality as Mamelodi Sundowns were able to hold Ahly in their semi-final first leg in Pretoria earlier in the day.
The Calabash is the biggest stadium on the continent. Yet the Sea Robbers manage to sail here, and that’s thanks to the backing of the Ghost.
The Ghost were again in full voice this evening, rallying behind their team with song and appreciation as they aim to steer them to promised land - the African crown - since 1995.
They produced a cacophony of noise that made the team tick, and made Pyramids look out of sorts in the final third in the first half.
Patrick Maswanganyi has become a demigod in their eyes, with every touch that he makes and skill almost ‘Midas’ against the run of play.
And so when he turned things up in the first half, he got the Bucs faithful on their feet as they cheered him on, chanting his nickname ‘Tito, Tito, Tito’ in sheer delight.
But such has been the strides of this Pirates team as a collective and individuals, it’s not only Maswanganyi who’s been grabbing the Ghost’s appreciation.
Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is fast becoming a fan-favourite so much so that with every tackle that he makes he’ll get a gesture of appreciation from the stands.
He hardly looks like he is playing in his first season in the continent’s premier interclub competition as he made tackles with precision.
Jose Riveiro is the captain of this Pirates ship that his last season is becoming memorable as he’s animated with every passing game, taking no prisoners from the referee as well.
While he directed traffic here, calling his team to adhere to his game-plan when they were out of shape, fourth offcial Adalbert Diouf was not having it easy.
The Spaniard yelled at him with every decision that went against his side as Pacifique Ndabihawebimana had his job cut out for him on the pitch as well.
The Ghost were in full voice for the better part of this game, including when Thalente Mbatha hit a hard and low shot which was parried away by goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawi.
But they were sent into deafening silence when Fiston Mayele was put through on goal before slotting past goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
They’d found their voices soon though, as Ndabihawebimana halted play and was sent to the monitor by his VAR team to check for a possible offside.
The decision went in Pirates’ favour as they ensured that they went into the break still deadlocked and a crucial clean sheet.
The clean sheet was kept under nervy conditions, though, as Chaine made a series of mistakes, resulting in him arguing with the Ghost behind his net.
But such is the beauty of the Pirates fans, they cheered for him whenever he made daring saves, especially in the second half when Pyramids was throwing the kitchen sink.
This Pirates team have mastered the art of game management and ability to capitalise on the Ghost’s support as they hardly deter.
As such, they gave the Egyptians as good as they got in the second half to the delight of their fans who cheered them on.
Maswanganyi was again the conductor of the orchestra, making inroads into Pyramids’ final third only for them to be blocked by the defence or saved by Elshenawi.
Pyramids thought that they’d finally got the lead and an all important goal late in the game, but that was again overruled by the VAR after Ndabihawebimana went to the monitor.
A win here would have made sure Pirates took a huge advantage heading into Egypt next week, but the clean sheet has given them something to build on as well - thanks to the fansa and VAR!