Orlando Pirates progressed to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals for the second season in a row with a 2-0 win over JS Saoura.
Pirates made two alterations from the comeback win over SuperSport United in midweek, with Abel Mabaso coming in for Thabang Monare and Kwame Peprah restored at the expence of Terrence Dzvukamanja.
It was an underwhelming start for the home team as the Buccaneers launched attacks from all angles through Deon Hotto, Paseka Mako, Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Kwame Peprah.
For all the Buccaneers adventures though, Saoura very nearly found the opening goal inside the first 20 minutes from an overhead kick in the area by Ismail Saidi after a cross from the right-hand side.
Pirates continued to live dangerously in the last ten minutes to halftime and needed goalkeeper Richard Ofori to parry a snap shot from a tight angle by Saidi.
The Buccaneers survived the onslaught and nearly had the lead on the stroke of halftime through a flying shot from an acute angle by Kabelo Dlamini.
Click through the gallery below to see the top-ranked sides in Africa.
Pirates made an electrifying start to the second half two minutes in as Nyauza got on the end of Hotto's free-kick and powered home a header for the opening goal
It was 2-0 within five minutes when a through ball from Bandile Shandu found Dlamini, who ran clear to stab home from close-range.
Saoura purposely looked to stage a comeback towards the closing quarter with shots from range by amongst others Mohamed El Amine Hammia.
That said, Pirates had to play the last 15 minutes of the match with ten players as Goodman Mosele received a second yellow and subsequent red card for an off-the-ball incident.
In the same breath, the Buccaneers turned to the bench and introduced Fortune Makaringe in place of Peprah to shore up the contest.
All the last-ditch attacking happened from Saoura, who looked to make the most of their one man advantage but the Buccaneers held on to seal the win and quarter-final spot.
Confirmed line-ups:
Pirates: Ofori, Jele, Ndah, Nyauza, Mako, Mabaso, Mosele, Shandu, Dlamini, Hotto, Peprah
Subs: Mpontshane, Dzvukamanja, Lepasa, Maela, Sam, Makaringe, Hlatshwayo, Makgaka, Ndlovu