Orlando Pirates‘ dream run in their Spanish pre-season tour came to a crashing halt on Friday night as they were defeated by Qatari side Al-Sadd with a score of 3-2.
This marked their first defeat of the tour, leaving them with a bittersweet taste as they return to South Africa, ahead of the MTN8 competition.
Mabasa Shines
Making his first start for the Buccaneers, Tshegofatso Mabasa emerged as a bright spark. He displayed impressive composure, netting a quickfire brace within seven minutes. The first came courtesy of a well-timed pass from Kabelo Dlamini, while the second saw him capitalize on a loose ball in the penalty area.
First-half frenzy
The opening ten minutes of the match were a whirlwind of attacking football and defensive miscues. Just moments after the first whistle, a defensive error by the Buccaneers gifted Al-Sadd the lead through Hashim Ali. The early setback could have snowballed for Orlando Pirates as Rafa Mujica nearly doubled the lead in the sixth minute, but a crucial save by Melusi Buthelezi kept them in the game.
Despite conceding a quickfire brace, Al-Sadd refused to relinquish control. They persistently pressed for an equalizer, finally finding their reward shortly before the halfway interval. A failure to clear their lines proved costly, and a deflected shot from Plata snuck past Melusi Buthelezi in goal. The scoreline remained 2-2 at the break.
Second Half Woes
The second half saw a shift in momentum. Pirates’ makeshift center-back pairing of Thabiso Sesane and Nkosinathi Sibisi seemed vulnerable, and Al-Sadd exploited this weakness. Gonzalo capitalized on a defensive lapse, beating the offside trap and firing a low shot past Buthelezi.
Pirates coach Jose Riveiro attempted to salvage the game with wholesale substitutions, but the Qatari defense held firm. New recruit Gilberto had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 85th minute, but his close-range shot went wide, ultimately ending the Pirates’ hopes of maintaining their unbeaten run.
Looking Ahead
Although the defeat stings, the pre-season tour has undoubtedly provided valuable lessons for the Pirates. Mabasa’s performance on debut offers promise for the attacking front, while the defensive frailties exposed by Al-Sadd highlight areas that need improvement.
The Buccaneers will now return to South Africa, carrying the experience gained in Spain as they gear up for the upcoming MTN8 competition.