Orlando Pirates have the track record on the road to earn the result they need in Sousse on Sunday, coach Eric Tinkler confidently insisted after his side could only manage a 1-1 draw against Etoile Sportive Du Sahel at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Pirates had a crucial 1-0 lead in the first leg of their Caf Confederation Cup final that would have put them in the driving seat, though marginally, and Etoile under pressure, in Sunday’s second leg in Tunisia.
But Thamsanqa Gabuza’s thunderous 36th-minute strike from a narrow angle was cancelled out by Etoile captain Ammar Jemal’s 87th-minute equaliser, after a defensive lapse by Pirates counterpart Happy Jele from a free-kick.
Tinkler, however, is pinning his hopes on Bucs’ good away record in this Confed against a technically excellent and superbly organised Etoile in the coastal city of Sousse.
“Conceding at home is what we didn’t want to do. But more importantly we didn’t want to lose either. If you lose 1-0 you have to go there and look for two goals,” the Pirates coach said.
“Now we have to go there and get an away goal. But that would put us back into the lead and back in the tie.
“We’re a good team away from home. Every trip we’ve managed to score. And I’m very proud of the boys – I think it was just a lapse in concentration towards the end.”
Among the permutations are that Pirates will need a 1-1 draw to go to penalties, draw by a higher margin to win on away goals, or victory by any scoreline.
Etoile have won six out of seven games at home, drawing the other. Bucs have won three and drawn two out of seven matches away, including a 1-0 victory against Etoile’s fellow Tunisians CS Sfaxien in the group stage.
Bucs’ semifinal saw an epic 4-3 victory against Al Ahly in Suez. But Ahly were under pressure having lost 1-0 in Johannesburg. Kermit Erasmus came off the bench and scored twice, turning the game spectacularly after Pirates went 2-0 down.
The Buccaneers’ most important player in attack was tied up by Etoile on Saturday, and Tinkler knows for Pirates to stand a chance of winning in Sousse, Erasmus will probably need to find a way to be influential.
“Kermit never had his best game. He knew that – you could see it on his face in the changing room,” the Bucs coach said.
“He was obviously going to be a marked man. But that happens to top players and it’s about being able to free yourself.
“We have to go back on Monday , reassess the game in a calm mind, and start working on how we will break them down on that side.”
Etoile captain Jemal’s comments showed the respect the Tunisian club have for Erasmus, and Bucs’ ability to come back from difficult situations.
“I watched their game in Egypt . They have Erasmus, he’s very good. Pirates are very good on the counter-attack. In Sousse we have to score, and also stay compact and keep our concentration,” Jemal said.
Pirates vow to up away game in Tunisia
Pirates had a crucial 1-0 lead in the first leg of their Caf Confederation Cup final that would have put them in the driving seat, though marginally, and Etoile under pressure, in Sunday’s second leg in Tunisia.
But Thamsanqa Gabuza’s thunderous 36th-minute strike from a narrow angle was cancelled out by Etoile captain Ammar Jemal’s 87th-minute equaliser, after a defensive lapse by Pirates counterpart Happy Jele from a free-kick.
Tinkler, however, is pinning his hopes on Bucs’ good away record in this Confed against a technically excellent and superbly organised Etoile in the coastal city of Sousse.
“Conceding at home is what we didn’t want to do. But more importantly we didn’t want to lose either. If you lose 1-0 you have to go there and look for two goals,” the Pirates coach said.
“Now we have to go there and get an away goal. But that would put us back into the lead and back in the tie.
“We’re a good team away from home. Every trip we’ve managed to score. And I’m very proud of the boys – I think it was just a lapse in concentration towards the end.”
Among the permutations are that Pirates will need a 1-1 draw to go to penalties, draw by a higher margin to win on away goals, or victory by any scoreline.
Etoile have won six out of seven games at home, drawing the other. Bucs have won three and drawn two out of seven matches away, including a 1-0 victory against Etoile’s fellow Tunisians CS Sfaxien in the group stage.
Bucs’ semifinal saw an epic 4-3 victory against Al Ahly in Suez. But Ahly were under pressure having lost 1-0 in Johannesburg. Kermit Erasmus came off the bench and scored twice, turning the game spectacularly after Pirates went 2-0 down.
The Buccaneers’ most important player in attack was tied up by Etoile on Saturday, and Tinkler knows for Pirates to stand a chance of winning in Sousse, Erasmus will probably need to find a way to be influential.
“Kermit never had his best game. He knew that – you could see it on his face in the changing room,” the Bucs coach said.
“He was obviously going to be a marked man. But that happens to top players and it’s about being able to free yourself.
“We have to go back on Monday , reassess the game in a calm mind, and start working on how we will break them down on that side.”
Etoile captain Jemal’s comments showed the respect the Tunisian club have for Erasmus, and Bucs’ ability to come back from difficult situations.
“I watched their game in Egypt . They have Erasmus, he’s very good. Pirates are very good on the counter-attack. In Sousse we have to score, and also stay compact and keep our concentration,” Jemal said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos