Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates failed in their search to don a second star as they lost 2-0 to Al-Ahly in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final in Cairo on Sunday.
The Egyptian side won the two-leg affair 3-1 on aggregate after drawing 1-1 in the first leg at Orlando Stadium on November 2. Mohamed Aboutrika scored for the hosts nine minutes after half-time and left the Buccaneers desperate to find a goal.
The breakthrough never came for the visitors, and Al Ahly displayed contrastingly clinical finishing as they picked up a second goal through Ahmed Abdelzaher in the 78th minute.
Pirates, however, had their chances on the night but were wasteful in attack. The miss of the evening belonged to Lennox Bacela with the score still just 1-0 to Al Ahly.
In the 63rd minute the Pirates striker received the ball ahead of the Al Ahly defence, and drew the keeper wide but his shot was whipped across the face of an open goal to the despair of his teammates.
Pirates, the only South African team to have won the continent's premier club competition, would have been aiming for a second Champions League title against a team which has reached the final no fewer than 10 times.
Pirates lifted the then-named African Cup of Champions Clubs title in 1995, beating ASEC Abidjan of the Ivory Coast 3-2 in a two-legged final.
In the first half, Pirates had their first dip at goal in the ninth minute with a free kick from 25 metres out. Setpiece specialist Daine Klate stepped up, but fired his shot straight at Al Ahly keeper Sherif Ekramy.
Al Ahly replied with their first meaningful sojourn into the Pirates half with a sharp chance on the quarter hour mark. The visiting defence was caught ball-watching as Mohamed Naguib was allowed a free header, but the shot just shaved the target.
Senzo Meyiwa was called into action in the 22nd minute when Ahmed Abdelzaher went for goal from range, and the Pirates shot-stopper had to put in a full length dive to deny the home side.
Klate turned provider in the 35th minute as he sent a ball into the Al Ahly area which found Tlou Segolela, but his header from close range was directed wide.
The goal came for Al Ahly in the 54th minute. The shot came in from outside the box by Abdallah Said which was blocked by a Pirates defender. The ball then fell perfectly for Aboutrika - who scored in the first leg - and he obliged by nudging the ball home to take a 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) lead for his side.
Abdelzaher added the second for Al Ahly from close range with 12 minutes remaining to seal the title.
Even a red card for Al Ahly player Sherif Abdel-Fadil in the 83rd minute could not help Pirates mount an unlikely comeback. – Sapa