Orlando Pirates continued to impress on their European pre-season tour, securing a 1-1 draw against Granada at the Banús Football Center in Marbella, Spain.
Newly signed winger, Gilberto, made an immediate impact by scoring a well-placed shot in the first half. Pirates showed strong attacking play, breaking through Granada’s defence effectively.
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Granada, recently relegated to Spain’s Segunda Division, responded quickly. Zalman Weissman equalized just two minutes after Gilberto’s opener, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Sandile Mthethwa.
This match was Pirates’ third friendly in Spain. They had previously drawn 2-2 with Plymouth Argyle and won 2-0 against Sevilla.
Under the guidance of coach Jose Riveiro, now in his third season, Pirates started brightly. Gilberto’s left-footed strike at the far post showcased the team’s development.
However, Granada quickly leveled the score after Mthethwa’s mistake.
In the second half, Pirates came close to regaining the lead. Tshegofatso Mabasa’s shot hit the post, and although Luca Zidane, son of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, was beaten, he managed to clear the ball.
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The South African giants will wrap up their European tour on Friday with a match against Qatari champions Al Sadd.
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