Horoya, Pirates battle for quarterfinal berth

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Mar 14, 2019. 13:00

Horoya AC and Orlando Pirates will battle for a place in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League when they meet at Stadu du 28 Septembre in Conakry on Saturday, 16 March 2019, kick-off at 15h00 CAT.

The Guinea side are placed second on the Group B log with seven points, while the South African visitors are third on six points. The equation as far as quarterfinal qualification is concerned is a simple one: Horoya need only avoid defeat to join group winners Esperance de Tunis in the final eight, while Pirates must win to advance.

The Buccaneers may yet come to rue their 2-2 draw at home to already-eliminated FC Platinum last weekend. The Soweto giants found themselves two goals down after some sloppy defending in the second half, but at least managed to salvage a draw thanks to late strikes from Thembinkosi Lorch and Augustine Mulenga.

Yet a victory would have seen Milutin Sredojevic’s side head to West Africa needing only a draw to advance.

As for HAC, they will be stinging from a 2-0 loss away to Esperance in Rades last time out, but confident that they can continue their unbeaten run at home (including a 1-1 draw with the Tunisian giants and a 2-0 win over Platinum).

The teams met on Matchday 2 back in January, with Pirates claiming an impressive 3-0 win in Soweto thanks to a brace from Lorch and a strike by Zambian forward Justin Shonga.

The other Group B match takes place simultaneously in Zvishavane in Zimbabwe, where Platinum will look for a consolation win at home to group winners Esperance.

Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa will take charge of the match in Conakry.