Zambia's Green Eagles edge Pirates

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Aug 10, 2019. 18:00

Zambia’s Green Eagles will take a tenuous 1-0 lead to South Africa for the second leg of their African Champions League first round tie after edging Orlando Pirates at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday.

Spencer Sautu scored the game’s only goal at the end of a quick counter attack after Pirates had bene stripped of the ball in the 49th minute, leaving the 1995 Champions Cup winners to have to come back in the second leg in Soweto on August 24.

Both sides had chances to score more goals on the opening weekend of this’s year African club competition, with desperate defending needed at times to stop more going in.

Pirates stated stronger but the home side, buoyed by their goal, produced the stronger finish and might have added more had samson Chilupe not missed from close range on the hour mark.

Pirates‘ introduction of Malawi international striker Gabadinho Mhango as a second half substitute livened up their attack towards the end but they could not find an equaliser.

Rookies Eagles were making their Champions League debut after finishing runners-up in the Zambian Super League last season. They competed in last season’s African Confederation Cup.