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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates bowed out of the CAF Champions League on Saturday evening after slumping to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Guinean side Horoya AC in Conakry.
After a goalless first stanza, the match sprang to life when Abdoulaye Camara fired home in the 57th minute, and the hosts added a second on 74 minutes thanks to Boniface Haba, rendering Justin Shonga's goal in injury time nothing more than a consolation.
Horoya fired a warning shot early in the contest as Ocansey Mandela saw his powerful effort clip the post before going behind for a goal kick.
Pirates hit back in the seventh minute with a chance of their own, Thamsanqa Gabuza racing through on goal only to be shoved in the back. However, the referee ignored the resulting penalty appeal and signalled for play to continue.
Pirates had another chance to grab the lead on the half-hour mark, but Luvuyo Memela fired over the bar after being teed up by Kudakwashe Mahachi.
Horoya did well to soak up the pressure, though, and always posed a threat when they hit the Buccaneers on the counter.
And, with the half-time break looming, Pirates keeper Wayne Sandilands was called into action, making a straightforward saved from Mandela's shot on goal.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 57th minute, when Camara fired a powerful shot through a crown of bodies, beating Sandilands at his near post with the help of a big deflection.
Bucs boss Milutin Sredojevic introduced Justin Shonga shortly thereafter in a bid to refresh his attack, but it was the hosts who would score again in the 72nd minute as Haba got the last touch on the ball as Mandela's shot was about to cross the line.
Sandilands did well to deny Amadou Wonkoye's goalbound shot in the 82nd minute, keeping the Buccaneers in with a chance of mounting a late comeback.
However, the comeback came too late, as Pirates eventually pulled one back in the injury time, Shonga rounding the keeper before firing into an empty net.
The result sees Horoya qualify for the quarter-finals for a second year running, while Pirates finish third in their group on six points.
