Orlando Pirates thrash African Stars to book CAF Champions League group stage spot

Bucs thump Stars to advance to CAFCL group stages

Africa Today at 16:37

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Orlando Pirates thrash African Stars to book CAF Champions League group stage spot

Photo: Orlando Pirates @ Facebook

23.10.26 FT CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates

African Stars

Orlando Pirates advanced to the CAF Champions League group stages after a 4-0 thrashing of African Stars in the return leg of their second preliminary round tie at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.

The Buccaneers were intent on adding to their 1-0 advantage from the first leg, as Bulelani Sigomoshe looked to set-up Evidence Makgopa with a cutback in the 12th minute, but the defence intervened.

Makgopa called Mervin Kasetura into action moments later, but the goalkeeper was equal to the task, before Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, thanks to an assist from Simphiwe Masilela.

Mokobodi looked to double his tally for the night with an effort from range in the 28th minute, but went narrowly wide. Makgopa eventually got on the score sheet on the stroke of half time, with Masilela playing provider once again.

Pirates continued where they left off in the second stanza as teenager Mpho Padime scored his first goal for the club one minute after the restart, having been introduced as a substitute in place of Tshepang Moremi at the break.

Padime was in the mood for a second but his effort went wide in the 57th minute, before testing Kasetura in the 72nd minute. Makgopa put the game to bed five minutes later, completing his brace in the process.

Abdeslam Ouaddou's men were still hungry for more goals as Simphiwe Selepe forced the African Stars shot-stopper into a dive in the closing stages, keeping the score at 4-0 and 5-0 on aggregate.

The Sea Robbers put the ghosts of last season behind them and now await their fate in the group stages, with the highly-anticipated draw set to be conducted later this month.

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Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.