The 1995 African Champions Cup champions, Orlando Pirates, eased into the last 16 of the 2004 CAF Champions League with an easy 5-1 win over Saint Michel of the Seychelles at the Johannesburg stadium on Sunday.
Pirates led 3-1 at half-time.
Bucs, leading 3-2 from the first leg played in the Seychelles two weeks ago, went into a 1-0 lead via an Edelbert Dinha penalty in the 12th minute.
But the islanders fought back and drew level with a header from striker Isiah Ohyango in the 17th minute.
Pirates’ star was their teenage striker Lebo Mokoena who had a stunning game and was unstoppable. Mokoena beat the offside trap in the 35th minute and laid on the ball to Bheka Phakathi, who swept the ball into the St Michel net.
Three minutes later Mokoena again beat the offside trap but this time was able to beat ‘keeper Nelson Sopha with a clinical finish.
Benedict Vilakazi made it 4-1 in the 58th minute when he rounded off another clever move from Mokoena. The icing was put on the cake by Phakathi, who was on hand to blast home the fifth goal after more great work by Mokoena in the 63rd minute.
Bucs toyed with their opponents until the final whistle but almost allowed then a consolation goal when they dropped their guard in the 73rd minute, but goalkeeper Thabang Radebe rescued the situation with a good save off Lorenzo Mathiot. — Sapa