Tactical shifts won us the game - Abdeslam Ouaddou

Despite dominating possession, Pirates found themselves frustrated in the first half by a disciplined and compact home outfit.

Ouaddou revealed that halftime adjustments proved decisive – tactical tweaks freed striker Tshegofatso Mabasa to respond with a clinical brace, while Oswin Appollis sealed the victory with a third goal, giving Pirates a commanding first-leg advantage.

"It was a game with two phases. We knew the opposition would arrive with a low block and energy. We didn't find the space, especially in the central corridor, but there was no space, and we were too slow down the sides in the first half.

Halftime, we made some changes and brought players on to get closer and to form combinations with Mabasa."

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Ouaddou named a strong starting line-up on the back of winning the MTN8 last weekend, but stressed the technical team had already made provision for rotation. 

His Lioli counterpart Bongani Maseko, felt the Lesotho side had themselves to blame for losing control of the tie.

"I thought we defended really well, and we were dangerous on the transition, but we just didn't take our chances in the first half. And then in the second half, they changed the structure of their team and that created some problems for us."

Maseko says they can’t be written off ahead of the second leg of the preliminary round next weekend at Orlando Stadium.