Pirates earn encouraging draw against Champions League-bound Pafos in Spain
Premier Soccer League
Relebohile Mofokeng Relebohile Mofokeng rescued Orlando Pirates from defeat against UEFA Champions League contestants Pafos FC in a friendly in Spain on Sunday. The match ended in a 1-all stalemate.
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South African tourists, Orlando Pirates FC, secured a 1-1 draw against Cypriot champions Pafos FC on Sunday afternoon at the Marbella Football Centre in Spain. The match formed part of their ongoing training camp as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Pafos, who will compete in the Uefa Champions League this season, provided a stern test, and Pirates will draw inspiration from the outcome. New head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou continued with Sipho Mbule in midfield and handed first starts of the tour to new signings Oswin Appollis and Yanele Mbuthuma.
The encounter started on a sour note for the Buccaneers as Pafos capitalised on a defensive lapse when Joao Correia fired past goalkeeper Sipho Chaine just six minutes into the game. However, the Soweto giants quickly regrouped and found their equaliser in the 25th minute.
Relebohile Mofokeng produced a moment of brilliance, skilfully evading his marker in the box before curling a precise left-footed shot into the far corner, following a well-timed assist from Appollis, his Bafana Bafana teammate.
Buoyed by the goal, Pirates appeared more composed and controlled the latter stages of the first half, enjoying significant possession and creating several chances. Mbule and Kabelo Dlamini both tested the Pafos goalkeeper with long-range efforts.
In the second half, Ouaddou rang the changes, bringing on Siyabonga Dladla, Cemran Dansin, and Boitumelo Radiopane for Chaine, Mbule, and Mbuthuma. Radiopane made an immediate impact, looking sharp and narrowly missing a chance to put Pirates ahead.
More substitutions followed as Pirates sought to exploit gaps in the Pafos defence. Notably, Mofokeng and Appollis impressed in wide positions as Ouaddou experimented with their roles on the flanks.
The result came as a confidence boost after Pirates' 2-0 defeat to English League One side Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
They next face La Liga outfit Las Palmas on Wednesday, with the squad of 32 continuing to build momentum ahead of their final tour match against LaLiga 2 side Granada on 19 July.