Orlando Pirates crumble in Congo as Lupopo FC seizes first-leg advantage. Image: Goal.com/BackpagePix.
(The Post News)– Lupopo FC of the Democratic Republic of the Congo began their home game against Orlando Pirates with a commanding 3-0 victory. They did this by applying early pressure and executing excellent finishing.
Lupopo hosts started the game flawlessly. They took the lead in the third minute when Ramos Kashala Wanet, a striker, blasted the ball past Pirates keeper Sipho Chaine. The Buccaneers were determined to reply, and at the fifteen-minute mark, Evidence Makgopa created a promising opportunity that Lupopo keeper Simon Ommossola made a sharp stop to deny.
But barely ten minutes before halftime, Nigerian midfielder Rafael Oliseh suffered an injury that forced him to be replaced by Dramane Kambou, dealing a setback to the home team. The host squad was still in charge when the sides went into halftime.
Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou brought on Thalente Mbatha and Oswin Appollis early in the second half to change the momentum. After Ommossola was defeated, Appollis had a chance to score on the hour mark but missed the right post by a tiny margin. The change almost immediately produced results.
The hosts did not panic, but they did not panic. The lead was doubled in the 70th minute when replacement Dramane Kambou took advantage of a loose ball in the box and tucked it past a defenceless Chaine. Teenager Jean Benoit Tukumban added a third goal, exacerbating the situation for the Soweto giants and presenting the Pirates with a formidable challenge in the second leg at home.
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