AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015 - Semi-finals - 1st leg - all results

AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015 Thamsanqa Gabuza

Semi-final 
1st leg 

26.09.15: Orland Pirates vs Al Ahly 1:0
27.09.15: Etoile du Sahel vs Zamalek 5:1

Orlando Pirates seize a slender advantage over Al Ahly.

An early goal gave South Africa's Orlando Pirates a 1:0 victory over Al Ahly of Egypt on Saturday in the first leg of their African Confederation Cup semi-final.

Thamsanqa Gabuza was the ninth minute match winner against the title holders on a warm evening at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

The tall striker connected with a low cross and, from an acute angle, steered the ball with his right foot just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy.

It was only the second time the veteran shot-stopper, whose father was the Ahly goalkeeper three decades ago, had to pick the ball from the net in seven Confederation Cup matches.

Ahly, winners of a record 19 Confederation of African Football (CAF) titles, failed to take chances to equalise in each half.

The Cairo Red Devils have struggled to find the net on the road this season in the African equivalent of the Europa League, scoring only once in three away group games.

"Our first priority was to win without conceding a goal at home and we achieved that," said Pirates coach and former South Africa midfielder Eric Tinkler.

"We wanted to catch Ahly through counter-attacks, but our plan largely failed because we played the ball to the feet of our attackers instead of over the Egyptian defence.

"It is half-time in the tie and we are one goal ahead.

Now we have to protect that lead and try and score some away goals."

Al Ahly have home advantage for the second leg next Sunday in Suez while Zamalek host Etoile a day earlier in Cairo.

Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia stunned Egyptian double winners Zamalek on Sunday to virtually clinch a place in the Confederation Cup final.

The two-legged final is set for the 20-22 November and a week later.

Marouane Tej scored twice and Baghdad Bounedjah, Alaya Brigui and substitute Saddam Ben Aziza once for the 2015 Tunisian league runners-up.

Ayman Hefny had halved a two-goal deficit with a goal midway through the first period, but it was a rare moment of joy for the Egyptian league and cup holders.

Etoile had scored just four goals in three group games en route to the last four of the tournament, while Zamalek had conceded just three goals in three away group games.