CS Sfaxien 0-1 Orlando Pirates: Rakhale's strike hands Bucs valuable away victory

 

Rakhale's stunning second half goal handed Bucs a 1-0 win over Sfaxien in the first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup match played at the Taieb Mhiri Stadium on Sunday

Orlando Pirates were looking for a return to winning ways, while Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien were eager to collect maximum points in front of their home fans.

Sfaxien came close to grabbing an early lead seven minutes into the game when midfielder Houssem Louati burst into the Pirates box, only to placed his shot wide od Brighton Mhlongo's goal.

Five minutes later, Pirates striker Lehlohonolo Majoro managed to beat the offside trap, but goalkeeper Rami Jeridi denied him with a brilliant  low save.

The home side won a free-kick just outside the Pirates box in the 26th minute, and Ghazi Challouf forced Bucs keeper into a good save from the set-piece.

Bucs were denied a blatant penalty seven minutes before the interval, when Sifiso Myeni was brought down inside the box after a tackle from behind by Zied Derbali.

However, Pirates scored two minutes into the second-half through Thabo Rakhale, who beat Derbali on a diagonal run, before hitting the back of the net with a cheeky chip from inside the box.

The visitors looked dangerous in the final third as they pushed for the equalizer, but they were left vunerable at the back.

In the 71st minute Sfaxien midfielder Louati's powerful header was blocked inside the Pirates box by Senegalese midfielder Issa Sarr.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Sfaxien midfielder Maher Hannachi's low strike from range forced Bucs keeper Mhlongo into a great save.

At the other end, Bucs substitute Kermit Erasmus unleashed a good strike from inside the Sfaxien box, but Jeridi punched the ball away.

Erasmus should have made it 2-0 in the dying minutes when his header came off the woodwork from the rebound after Jerdi had done well to deny Rakhale from inside the box. 

Nonetheless, Pirates managed to hold on to their lead for three massive points in Tunisia. They remain second in the Group B standings with six points after three games.