Pirates Fall to Saudi Giants Al Ittihad

Orlando Pirates suffered a 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad on July 21, 2026, during their Spanish pre-season tour. Pirates previously recorded a 2-1 victory over Cadiz and a 1-1 draw with Cordoba CF leading into this match.

Al Ittihad opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a goal from Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri. The Buccaneers managed to equalize in the 27th minute when Thalente Mbatha struck a powerful shot that found the back of the net. Despite the equalizing goal, the Pirates faced a setback as a second goal was disallowed for offside.

As the match progressed, Al Ittihad maintained composure, controlling possession and rotating the ball effectively. Just before halftime, they capitalized on their persistence, with Moussa Diaby scoring in first-half injury time, restoring their lead.

In the second half, Al Ittihad aimed for a third goal to extend their advantage. After about an hour of play, Pirates' Sipho Chaine made a crucial save, denying a long-range effort from an Al Ittihad player and keeping the score at 2-1. However, the momentum shifted as Pirates made multiple substitutions, which led to a drop in their tempo with 20 minutes remaining.

In the 85th minute, George Ilenikhena scored a third goal for Al Ittihad, seemingly sealing the victory for the Saudi Pro League champions. Nevertheless, Pirates managed to narrow the gap with a last-minute goal from Yanela Mbuthuma. The match concluded with the score at 3-2 in favor of Al Ittihad. Pirates are set to return to the field on Wednesday to face Las Palmas.