Ivorian club Stade d'Abidjan earned their first point in the CAF Champions League on Saturday following a 1-1 draw with visiting Orlando Pirates of South Africa in a Group C clash. Ousmane Meite headed in a second half equalizer from a well executed set piece for the hosts to cancel out a first half penalty from Bucs striker Evidence Makgopa. Pirates move into first place in Group C for now on five points ahead of Al Ahly.
Pirates attempted to dominate the match and were mostly successful in the first half against the less fancied Ivorian club. The visitors created a couple of dangerous chances in the 14th minute but poor finishing kept the Bucs from opening the scoring.
However late in the first half a clever turn from rising Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng drew a foul in the penalty area and Makgopa opened the scoring with a well struck spot kick.
It was a completely different and motivated Stade d'Abidjan side after halftime. The hosts' more adventurous style of play kept Pirates pinned in their own half and Les Stadistes were rewarded. In the 54th minute a free kick service from out wide found a wide open Adama Traoré who headed the ball back across the goal for Meite to nod the ball in past Bucs goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
The match was sparked to life by the equalizer and chances began to arrive for both teams. Pirates improved their attacking play but were countered by Stade goalkeeper Drissa Bamba who increased his level from a shaky first half. The hosts created a couple of excellent chances in the final stages of the match but Pirates keeper Sipho Chaine and his defense escaped unscathed for the teams to share the points.
Video: Stade d'Abidjan 1-1 Orlando Pirates highlights (CAF YouTube)
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