Orlando Pirates missed out on a chance to go top and dropped to second position in Group A after a goalless draw against Al Ahly Benghazi on Sunday evening.
Pirates made four changes from the side that suffered a derby loss to Kaizer Chiefs as Fortune Makaringe, Wayne Sandilands, Gabadinho Mhango and Terrence Dzvukamanja were all recalled.
Below is how the Bucs lined up for their clash.
Pirates: Sandilands, Hlatshwayo, Nyauza, Mako, Ndlovu, Makaringe, Motshwari, Mntambo, Pule, Mhango, Dzvukamanja.
Subs: Mpontshane, Tshobeni, Sam, Dlamini, Mabaso, Jooste, Mabaso
The hosts put Pirates under early pressure but it was Vincent Pule that nearly broke the deadlock in the 21st minute after a strong swift free-kick that forced goalkeeper Murad Al Wuheeshi to make a decent save.
Al Ahly continued to create chances, with Shamikh Hamid having a chance of his own just on the half-hour mark. He received a slick pass just outside the box and curled a shot that went just wide off goal.
The first half was indeed lively and Al Ahly came close once again. Ibrahem Bodabous had a chance from a close-range free-kick but could only watch his effort sail narrowly off target.
However, it was a different encounter after the break. It was Pirates that came close to scoring this time around, with Ben Motshwari hitting a brilliant strike from outside the box in the 52nd minute. Unfortunately, it hit the upright and went out for a goal kick. Mhango also came close to scoring in the 68th minute but Wuheeshi was on par to make the stop and keep his side in the game.
Al Ahly reacted well once again as Jibreel Alwadawi saw a clear-cut chance at goal in the last quarter of the game but Sandilands brilliantly saved the effort to keep the scores level. It was indeed a game of great goal-keeping at both ends.
The game looked headed for a tense finish in the latter stages and Mhango was perhaps unlucky not to have grabbed a late winner for Pirates after watching his strike hit the post as well. In the end, both sides had to settle for a draw in what was a fair result after 90 minutes.
With the result, Pirates dropped to second in the group, with five points to their name so far. Nigeria’s Enyimba moved top of the pile following their comeback 2-1 win over ES Setif in an earlier fixture.