Pirates recover from disastrous start to crush Eswatini part-timers in CAF Confederation Cup

Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele scored and conceded an own goal as they crushed Eswatini part-timers Royal Leopards 6-2 on Sunday after a disastrous start to their CAF Confederation Cup group match.

After a much criticised away loss to Al Ittihad of Libya last weekend, the Soweto Buccaneers fell two goals behind within eight minutes of the kick-off in Mbombela.

Jele deflected a shot into his own net and Thabiso Mokenkoane doubled the lead by nodding a cross past Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane, who bore the brunt of the blame for the defeat by Ittihad.

Another own goal, this time by Machawe Dlamini, halved the deficit midway through the opening half and slack defending allowed Bandile Shandu and Ghanaian Kwame Peprah to score before half-time for Pirates.

It was one-way traffic toward Leopard goalkeeper Phephisani Msibi in the second half and Jele, Kabelo Dlamini and Zimbabwean Terrence Dzvukamanja netted for a decisive victory.

The heavy loss for the Eswatini police team came after they caused one of the biggest shocks in the 18 years of the Confederation Cup by eliminating JS Kabylie of Algeria, the 2021 runners-up.

It did not help their cause that they were forced to host Pirates in South Africa because their home ground does not meet international standards.

Leopards play Al Ittihad in a rearranged fixture in Mbombela next Sunday before tackling Pirates again on March 13 in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

Victory lifted 2015 Confederation Cup runners-up Pirates to the top of Group B with six points, JS Saoura of Algeria and Ittihad have four each and Leopards are pointless.

?? FT || Royal Leopards 2 - 6 @orlandopirates?? 20' (OG) M. Dlamini?? 38' Shandu?? 45' Peprah?? 57' Jele?? 60' Dlamini?? 80'