The Orlando Pirates players were presented with a bucketful of golden opportunities in their goalless first-leg Champions League semifinal against AC Sfaxien at a pulsating Ellis Park on Saturday night — but finished the game spread-eagled on the turf in undisguised disappointment.
The hard-pressed, relieved Tunisians, in contrast, pranced about in glee and hugged each other after finishing on level terms — a result that is generally conceived a moral victory in two-leg cup encounters.
But while the return leg in Sfax in two weeks is sure to be an infinitely more taxing challenge for the Buccaneers against what is expected to be a stronger Sfaxien line-up, Pirates can take some comfort from the fact that in most departments they outplayed and out sped the gallant and determined Tunisians.
For Democratic Republic of Congo international Lelo Mbele, however, the game is likely to remain a recurring nightmare as he recalls his succession of missed opportunities, highlighted — or should that be low-lighted? — by a shot over the crossbar in the 75th minute from barely 5m.
Then, as if not to be done in the department of shooting notoriety, Pirates’ late substitute, Phumudzo Menenzhe, squandered an even easier opportunity 10 minutes later.
With the 18 000 crowd urging them on almost hysterically and the referee generously extending the play well beyond the stipulated extra four minutes, Pirates threatened to score until the bitter end — and a 93rd minute Lucas Thwala free-kick from 30m skimmed centimetres wide of the post.
Though tough and relentless, the opening period also produced characteristics of a game of chess as Sfaxien defended with composure and then launched counter-attacks through artful Ghanain Joetex Frimpong and his eager colleagues.
In the second-half, however, Sfaxien survived on a wing and a prayer with fearless tackling — aided and abetted, in no small degree, by the kamikaze Pirates’ finishing. — Sapa