Orlando Pirates held at home but reach semi-finals
Orlando Pirates of South Africa were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Mouloudia Alger of Algeria on Wednesday, but still advanced to the CAF Champions League semi-finals.
Pirates won the first leg of the quarter-final 1-0 in Algiers last week through a Mohau Nkota goal and progressed to the penultimate stage of the premier African club competition 1-0 on aggregate.
The semi-finals this month will pit South African and Egyptian clubs against each other for places in the two-leg final.
Mamelodi Sundowns face record 12-time Champions League winners Al Ahly while Pirates meet Pyramids, the only semi-finalists not to have won the competition.
Pirates were the only group winners to succeed in the quarter-finals, with Al Hilal of Sudan, FAR Rabat of Morocco and Esperance of Tunisia all eliminated.
Mouloudia came to Soweto on the outskirts of Johannesburg confident of overturning the aggregate deficit and the former champions had several late chances to win the second leg and force a penalty shootout.
Abdelkader Menezia had a powerful header saved by perfectly positioned goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, then fellow substitute Ivorian Kipre Zunon wasted a close-range chance by blazing wide.
Pirates also had an added-time scoring opportunity as another substitute, Tshegofatso Mabasa, swivelled in the area and his low shot struck the base of the far post.
The South African club are aiming for a third final appearance. They beat ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast in the 1995 title decider, but lost to Ahly 18 years later.
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