Orlando Pirates vs Al-Ittihad FC

Al-Ittihad FC struck first through Youssef En-Nesyri in the 10th minute. The Moroccan striker capitalised on an early chance to put the Saudi Pro League side ahead at Banús Football Centre in Marbella, Spain.

Orlando Pirates responded through Thalente Mbatha, who levelled in the 27th minute with a composed finish. The South African side looked to have weathered the early storm, but Al-Ittihad regained the lead just before the break. Moussa Diaby scored in first-half stoppage time (45+2'), sending the teams into the interval with Al-Ittihad leading 2-1.

The second half saw both sides trade chances without a breakthrough until the 85th minute, when George Ilenikhena turned home to make it 3-1 for the Saudi side. Yanela Mbuthuma pulled one back for Orlando Pirates deep into stoppage time (90+3'), but the Buccaneers could not find an equaliser.

Ilenikhena's 85th-minute goal effectively killed the contest. Coming just five minutes after Orlando Pirates had shown signs of building pressure, the French striker's finish restored Al-Ittihad's two-goal cushion and left the South African side with too little time to mount a full recovery. Mbuthuma's late strike was a consolation rather than the start of a comeback.

• Youssef En-Nesyri (Al-Ittihad) — opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a clinical early finish, setting the tone for Al-Ittihad's attacking display.
• Moussa Diaby (Al-Ittihad) — struck just before half-time (45+2'), a crucial goal that gave his side momentum into the break.
• George Ilenikhena (Al-Ittihad) — the 85th-minute match-winner, his composure in the box sealed the result.
• Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates) — scored the equaliser in the 27th minute and was the Pirates' most dangerous outlet in the attacking third.

Al-Ittihad's three-goal haul, split across both halves, suggests a clinical edge in transition — particularly En-Nesyri's early opener and Diaby's late-first-half strike. Orlando Pirates matched the intensity for spells but were undone by the quality of Al-Ittihad's finishing, especially in the final ten minutes when Ilenikhena decided the contest. The four yellow cards (three for Al-Ittihad, one for Orlando Pirates) reflect a competitive pre-season encounter rather than a friendly walkthrough.

For Orlando Pirates, this defeat continues their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026/27 South African season. The Buccaneers showed attacking promise through Mbatha and Mbuthuma but will need to tighten up defensively to prevent early concessions. Al-Ittihad, gearing up for the Saudi Pro League campaign, will take confidence from a disciplined performance against a respected African side.

A deserved win for Al-Ittihad, who led twice and managed the game effectively after going ahead. Orlando Pirates competed well in spells but lacked the cutting edge to turn possession into a sustained comeback. Pre-season friendly margins matter less than the patterns, and the pattern here was Al-Ittihad's superior finishing in the decisive moments.