Orlando Pirates capped their incredible run in the Caf Champions League by beating 12-time champions Al Ahly 2-1 at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt to ensure they finish top of their group on Saturday.

A rare wayward pass by Deon Hotto had allowed Ahly to equalise through substitute Hussein El-Shahan after Relebohile Mofokeng had put the Buccaneers ahead early in the second half.

Gilberto, the Angolan striker, came off the bench to score the winner for the Buccaneers, heading home after another substitute Tshegofatso Mabasa had thought his header crossed the line.

It didn’t matter who scored as the Bucs recorded yet another piece of history against Africa’s club of the century.

The 20-year-old Mofokeng toe-poked home after getting in the end of Thalente Mbatha’s pass in a match Pirates needed to draw to ensure they finish on top of their group to avoid facing one of the other three top group finishers.

For finishing on top Pirates will also gain an advantage of playing the second leg of their quarterfinal at home.

Interestingly, Pirates started this match looking to beat Ahly in their own back yard for a record third time, having beaten them in the group stages of the Champions League in 2013 and in the semifinal of the Caf Confederation Cup in 2015.

Before this match, Pirates were the only side to beat Ahly twice away from home.

Both sides had chances to score in the first half but fluffed them. Mofokeng should have put Pirates ahead inside the first five minutes when he found himself with acres of space inside the area but chose to pass.

Yasser Ibrahim was also unlucky to see his header going over the bar following an Ahly corner that Pirates failed to clear. But Pirates did well in neutralising the home side, with Makhehlene Makhuala and Mbatha doing a lot of work to protect their defence.

Mbatha, looking dangerous when having the ball in front of the Ahly box, did well to pick Mofokeng for the ball that resulted in the goal. Scoring his fourth goal in eight Champions League matches, Mofokeng looked calm as he put the ball in the back of the net.

The win for Pirates is quite significant against a side that has won this competition four times in the last five years and came to this match as favourites after holding the Buccaneers to a 0-0 draw in Orlando in December.