After losing to Panorama FC Under 19 on the opening day of the Engen Cup at Marks Park Sports Club on Friday, Orlando Pirates Under 19s had a difficult road ahead of them.
The two teams, who were placed in Group C, were among the first to take the field in the thrilling competition that featured some of South Africa’s upcoming football stars.
The Buccaneers were quicker off the line and spent the majority of the first ten minutes camped in the opposing half.
However, they didn’t have much to show for their early dominance, as the Roodepoort team remained strong.
The game’s turning point occurred in the eleventh minute when Panorama capitalized on their first serious opportunity with a simple tap-in goal to make it 1-0.
The individuals in orange appeared to be driven by the end goal, as they became more and more menacing with time.
On the cusp of halftime, they might have scored again, but Samukele Kabini made a crucial save for the Bucs while the defense was overextended by darting into the penalty area.
The Soweto Giants’ strategy had a little more purpose in the second half, but they were still held at bay by some tenacious defence.
In his attempt to target the top corner, Mohau Nkota forced the goalkeeper to make a save before being stopped by the crossbar.
Pirates continued to press, and Tony Mbunga also came near, but Panorama’s steadfast defense proved to be their trump card, leaving the Buccaneers needing victories in their final two group games in order to increase their chances of competing in the knockout rounds.
Later today, at 15:30, the Bucs Juniors will play another match against JDR Stars Academy in Group C.