Orlando Pirates opened their Caf Confederation Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Algerian outfit JS Saoura at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Soweto giants named the same side which knocked AmaZulu out of the Nedbank Cup last weekend as Gabadinho Mhango was still left out of the squad completely.

The Buccaneers got the game off to the perfect start as they grabbed the lead with just two minutes gone. Thembinkosi Lorch drilled a free-kick to the far post, which was met by Goodman Mosele, his volley though was well saved but the visiting goalkeeper but he could only manage to parry the ball into the path of Jele, who then had a simple tap-in to put his side ahead.

Pirates almost made it 2-0 shortly after as Lorch narrowly missed Deon Hotto’s cross to the back post.

The Algerian eventually started to find their feet with Belaid Hamidi forcing Siyabonga Mpontshane into a top save as the visitors began to pin the home side in their own half.

Pirates, however, remained a threat on the break with Lorch and Kwame Peprah coming close just before the break.

Saoura continued to press Pirates back at the start of the second half but were struggling to create any clear chances.

The home side then almost against the run of play scored their second goal of the encounter as Bandile Shandu was on hand to round off a brilliant flowing counterattack.

Shandu’s strike all but killed off the opposition as they began to tire allowing Pirates to see out the game and pick up three points in their Caf Confed Cup group stage opener.