Tshegofatso Mabasa's brace leads Orlando Pirates to victory in CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates got their CAF Champions League campaign off to a flying start with a 3-0 victory over Lioli FC in the preliminary round clash in Bloemfontein, as Tshegofatso Mabasa struck a quickfire brace before Oswin Appollis sealed the win late on.

The Buccaneers entered the tie as overwhelming favourites, but the opening half proved an exercise in frustration. They dominated territory and possession, with Deon Hotto central to much of their attacking play.

In the 11th minute, Hotto’s set piece found Relebohile Mofokeng, who chipped dangerously into the area, only for Lioli goalkeeper William Huni to gather before a Pirates striker could pounce.

Huni was the visitors’ key figure, producing a string of interventions to keep them in the contest. He pulled off a sharp stop to deny Sipho Mbule’s close-range header in the 30th minute after Hotto’s cross had caused panic.

Moments earlier, Lebone Seema had gone close with a header that flew narrowly wide, while Appollis and Mofokeng both probed with dangerous runs into the box but found no breakthrough.

At halftime, Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou introduced Tshepang Moremi and Dansin — changes that would ultimately swing the game. Moremi’s energy in midfield gave the Buccaneers a sharper cutting edge, while Dansin’s composure at the back allowed them to commit more bodies forward.

The breakthrough arrived in the 62nd minute. Appollis delivered a pinpoint corner into the danger area, where Mabasa rose highest to power home a header. The relief was clear among Pirates’ players and supporters, who had been made to wait for their dominance to count.

Just four minutes later, the lead was doubled. Mofokeng glided past his marker with ease before threading a perfectly weighted ball into Mabasa’s path. The striker showed composure and precision, sliding his finish past the advancing Huni to complete his brace in a little over 240 seconds.

With breathing space established, Pirates began to play with freedom, moving the ball confidently and pinning Lioli deeper into their own half. Moremi capped his impressive cameo with a decisive contribution in the 82nd minute.

Driving through midfield, he spotted Appollis’ run and picked him out with a defence-splitting pass. The winger kept his cool, firing low past Huni to complete the 3-0 rout.

For Ouaddou, the performance underlined both resilience and attacking variety. Mabasa’s poacher’s instinct, allied with the creativity of Mofokeng, Appollis and Moremi, showcased the squad’s depth — a crucial factor if they are to better last season’s semi-final finish.

Defensively, Pirates again stood firm, extending their run of clean sheets to more than 400 minutes across competitions. That solid platform, coupled with ruthless finishing, leaves them in complete control of the tie.

The Buccaneers will take a commanding 3-0 advantage into next weekend’s return leg at Orlando Stadium, where they will be overwhelming favourites to complete the job and advance to the next stage of Africa’s premier club competition.