Jurčić salutes brave Pirates after Pyramids deliver crushing blow in the Caf Champions league semi-finals - ‘They are a great team’

Orlando Pirates suffered their first Caf Champions League defeat of the season, losing 3-2 to Pyramids in the second leg in Cairo.

The defeat meant that Jose Riveiro’s side bowed out of the competition, ending hopes of an all-South African final.

Despite a spirited effort and goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota, it was not enough to overturn Pyramids' advantage.

Fiston Mayele’s brace proved decisive, sending the Egyptian side through. After the game, Pyramids' head coach Krunoslav Jurčić spoke to the media and showed great respect for Pirates and the style of football they played.

He praised their fighting spirit and admitted it was a difficult contest.

Pirates leave the competition with heads held high but now shift focus back to domestic glory.

“Congratulations to the team of Orlando, they are a great team, they played today a great match,” he said as reported by iDiski Times.

“I can’t be satisfied 100% with how we played today, but this is normal.

“This is a big level of stress, big level of fear, and normally in this case players didn’t show what they could show in this moment in the end they showed character, with this character we won the match."

Exiting the Caf Champions League at the semi-final stage gives Pirates a chance to regroup and refocus on the domestic front.

With games in hand, they remain firmly in the race for the league title and must now catch up.

The Buccaneers also have the Nedbank Cup final to look forward to, where they will face fierce rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Winning both the league and the cup could still turn their season into a memorable one.

Pirates will face Sekhukhune United in a crucial league clash midweek.

They will then prepare for the first Soweto Derby of the weekend against Kaizer Chiefs in the league first, then in the Nedbank Cup final.