The Buccaneers lined-up with Bongani Sam, Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Ben Motshwari, Vincent Pule and Fortune Makaringe as their five changes from the goalless draw at Stellenbosch FC.
Pirates probed first when a cross-cum shot from the right-side on six minutes by Wayde Jooste nearly caught out goalkeeper Anas Zniti after deflecting off a defensive player.
Another chance from the Buccaneers went pear-shaped a minute from the half-hour mark when Hotto side-footed a delivery from the right-side across the face of goal.
The breakthrough came five minutes from halftime when Pule ran in behind the defence to send a flick-on from Hotto past Zniti with a composed bottom-corner finish.
Raja targeted a swift reply through the forceful nature in the six-yard area of Ben Malango, but Thulani Hlatshwayo and Nyauza monitored his every move.
The Green Eagles were quick out of the starting blocks after the break and had the Buccaneers pinned into their own half with balls through the area.
Pirates were finally cut open following 60 minutes when a mistimed header from Nyauza fell straight to Malango who ran clear to slot beyond a stranded Sandilands.
It was all Raja after managing the equaliser as a first-time shot from the far side of the area by Zakaria Habti flashed narrowly wide.
This led the Buccaneers to a triple substitution 15 minutes before time when Thembinkosi Lorch, Thabang Monare and Paseka Mako entered.
Hotto could've restored the lead for Pirates in the closing stages, but he dilly-dallied from a ball in the area and subsequently saw the chance fall away.
Pirates had another chance at the death from a long ball to Mako, but Zniti thwarted to leave the contest all square ahead of next weekend's return-leg in Casablanca.
Raja: Zniti, Madkou, Jbira, Haddad, Hadhoudi, Arjoune, El Wari, Ngoma, Benhalib, Rahimi, Rahimi, Malango.
Subs: Bouamir, Boutayeb, Soukhane, Achchakir, Zrida, Makahasi, Nanah, Noah, Habti