Orlando Pirates survived an early scare before blasting Royal Leopards from eSwatini 6-2 in a CAF Confederation Cup encounter at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday evening.
Leopards raced to a 2-0 lead before the first 10 minutes of the match after Mzwandile Mabelesa had put them ahead in the sixth minute with a shot which deflected on Happy Jele. Two minutes later, Thabiso Mokenkoane rose high and headed past Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.
The Buccaneers pulled one back through Machawe Dlamini’s own goal off a Kabelo Dlamini cross in the 20th minute.
The goal spurred on the Soweto giants, who continued to press on and Bandile Shandu equalised in the 38th minute. Pirates led 3-2 at interval after Kwame Peprah netted their third goal on the stroke of half-time.
Bucs took the match to their opponents early in the second half and their efforts bore fruits when Jele made it 4-2 in the 57th minute with Kabelo Dlamini scoring their fifth goal three minutes later. Second half substitute Terrence Dzvukamanja scored Pirates’ sixth goal of the match in the 80th minute.
