CAIRO – Pyramids FC produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat South Africa’s Orlando Pirates 3-2 in the second leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, booking their first ever appearance in the continental showpiece against Mamelodi Sundowns.
After a 0-0 stalemate in last weekend’s first leg in Johannesburg, the hosts found themselves behind just before half-time when Relebohile Mofokeng seized on a loose ball and fired home from close range in the 40th minute.
Pyramids responded swiftly, with Fiston Mayele nodding in Mostafa Fathy’s pinpoint cross to level matters going into the break.
The see-saw nature of the tie continued after the interval as Pirates regained the lead in the 52nd minute through Mohau Nkota’s low, dipping drive.
Yet Pyramids, buoyed by a fervent home crowd, struck back almost immediately. Sub-in Ramadan Sobhi rose highest to head Mohamed Chibi’s delivery past Sipho Chaine, restoring parity just five minutes after Nkota’s strike.
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With the outcome hanging in the balance deep into stoppage time, Mayele once again proved the hero. A goalmouth scramble from a corner broke kindly for the Congolese forward, who hammered a loose ball into the roof of the net in the 84th minute to spark wild celebrations and seal a famous aggregate victory.
The win extends Pyramids’ remarkable unbeaten home run in all competitions to 23 matches and denies South Africa an all-South African final.
They will now face compatriots Mamelodi Sundowns, who earlier eliminated titleholders Al Ahly on away goals, in the two-legged final first in Pretoria on May 24 and the return in Cairo on June 1.