Orlando Pirates suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal tie away to Simba SC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday evening.
The Buccaneers were beaten by Wekundu wa Msimbazi thanks to a penalty midway through the second half from Shomari Kapombe.
Both teams had early moments in attack – without testing goalkeepers Aishi Manula or Richard Ofori – before the defences settled in and chances dried up, with most play forced down the flanks at both ends of the field.
Shomari Kapombe scores the only goal of the match as Simba win the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Orlando Pirates 1-0.
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Pirates had to wait until the 34th minute to have their first effort on target, a tame low shot from Kwame Peprah which was easily scooped up by Manula.
Simba’s Papa Sakho was a potent threat with his pace and dribbling, though too often his end product and decision making let Pirates’ defenders off the hook.
The highlight of the first half arrived in injury time before the break when former Pirates forward Bernard Morrison fired an effort on target from the right of the penalty area, but saw his shot turned away by a fine save from Ofori to see the score locked at 0-0 heading to the change rooms.
The Buccaneers swapped out Kabelo Dlamini for Fortune Makaringe at the start of the second half and immediately showed far more attacking intent compared to the opening 45 minutes.
However, Simba gradually asserted control and on 65 minutes they were awarded a penalty for a sliding challenge on Morrison from Happy Jele. Referee Haythem Guirat pointed to the spot and his decision was ratified by VAR.
Shomari Kapombe took the spot kick and coolly struck into the bottom corner of the net to put Wekundu wa Msimbazi 1-0 up midway through the second half.
Pirates looked for a response and hit the side netting via Makaringe, while a subsequent Hotto corner kick almost caught out Manula, who was highly unconvincing in palming away the delivery.
The Tanzanian hosts were able to see out the remainder of the match in relative comfort – even threatening a second on the counter attack in the dying minutes – to secure a 1-0 victory and put themselves in control of the tie.
The return game will be played at Orlando Stadium on Sunday 24 April. The aggregate winners will face one of two Libyan teams in the semifinals: Al Ittihad or Al Ahli.
Simba SC (0) 1 (Kapombe 68’ pen)
Orlando Pirates 0
Simba: Manula, Kapombe, Baka, Wawa, Husseini, Mkude, Banda (Kibu 56’), Morrison (Yassin 76’), Lwanga (Bwalya 56’), Sakho (Mhilu 85’), Mugalu (Kagere 86’)
Pirates: Ofori, Shandu, Nyauza, Jele, Maela, Monare, Ndlovu (Mabaso 74’), Mosele, Dlamini (Makaringe 46’), Hotto, Peprah (Lepasa 77’).