Pirates held by minnows La Cure in CAF Champions League
Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou gave young Cristain Derbyshire his professional debut against the Islanders.
In a captivating encounter at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex, minnows La Cure secured a 0-0 draw against Orlando Pirates in the first leg of the CAF Champions League qualifying round. The evenly matched sides, based in Mauritius, left spectators on the edge of their seats as neither managed to gain an edge. The match took place at the home ground of the hosts, who managed to keep Orlando Pirates at bay throughout the first half, holding a strong defensive line.
Young Cristain Derbyshire, debuting professionally for Pirates, made an impact at right-back, displaying commendable performance. Although Pirates, led by coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, came close to breaking the deadlock in the early stages, particularly through Boitumelo Radiopane, their efforts were thwarted by goalkeeper Jean Ramdiane.
Amidst the pressure, Oswin Appollis sustained an injury after a collision with a La Cure defender, but surprisingly, he continued playing without any hindrance. In the second half, Pirates intensified their pursuit for the opening goal, with Deon Hotto attempting a shot from a free kick, which was saved by Ramdiane. Despite maintaining possession, Pirates struggled to create further scoring opportunities.
Ouaddou made several substitutions in the 64th minute to adjust the team dynamics, yet La Cure's defense remained unbroken, resulting in an evenly contested match. The result has left the two-legged tie hanging in the balance, with both teams having a significant task ahead in the upcoming second leg in Orlando.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
