Orlando Pirates go down to Libolo in Champions League

South Africa's Orlando Pirates have been beaten 3-1 in their opening game of this year's African Champions League.

The former winners went down to Recreativo do Libolo of Angola.

Libolo went three-nil up before Pirates got on the scoresheet and the result leaves the 1995 champions with a huge task in the second leg.

Maieco Henrique got two goals in the opening 20 minutes to grab control for the visitors.

Libolo's third came just after the hour mark before Rooi Mahamutsa got a stoppage time consolation for Pirates which just about keeps them in the hunt for a place in the next round.

Despite notionally being at home, the match was not played at the Orlando Stadium.

Instead, Pirates took the game to Port Elizabeth, as part of their plan to broaden the appeal of their team.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Ghana's Berekum Chelsea secured a solid 2-0 away win over LISCR of Liberia.

And Nigeria's Dolphins also won away from home - taking a grip on their tie with Equatorial Guinea's Sony Ela Nguema with a 3-0 victory.

Zimbabwe's Platinum scored a big away win, with a 4-2 victory over Green Mamba of Swaziland - Donald Ngoma got two goals for Platinum.

Zambia's representatives in the Champions League, Power Dynamos, put five past Japan Actuel of Madagascar in Antananarivo, as they won 5-1 away from home - with two goals each from Mulenga Mukuka and Felix Nyanda.

And Coin Nord Mitsamiouli of Comoros earned a rare success for their country on the sporting stage as they beat Ethiopia Coffee 1-0.