The first-leg matches of the second preliminary round have been completed, with Orlando Pirates and Red Arrows securing victories against their respective opponents.

Orlando Pirates claimed a narrow 1-0 away victory over African Stars, putting themselves in a favourable position ahead of the return leg. The South African side will take confidence from the result as they look to strengthen their chances of progressing to the next stage of the competition.

African Stars, meanwhile, will need to produce a stronger performance in the second leg if they hope to overturn the deficit. Although the defeat leaves them with work to do, the one-goal margin means the tie remains open, with another opportunity to fight for qualification.

In the other encounter, Red Arrows recorded a 1-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs, giving the Zambian side a slim advantage heading into the return fixture. The result represents an important step for Red Arrows, who will aim to protect their lead and secure progression when the teams meet again.

Kaizer Chiefs, on the other hand, suffered a setback after failing to find the net in the opening leg. The South African club will now need to improve its attacking performance and make better use of scoring opportunities in the return match to keep its hopes alive.

Both fixtures produced narrow victories, leaving the teams facing difficult decisions ahead of the decisive second legs. Orlando Pirates and Red Arrows will be encouraged by their respective results, but neither side can afford to become complacent, as their opponents still have an opportunity to turn the ties around.

The completed fixtures were announced with the update: "First legs of the second preliminary round done & dusted!"

With the opening matches concluded, attention will now turn to the return fixtures, where the teams will battle to determine which clubs advance to the next round. African Stars and Kaizer Chiefs must find ways to overcome their deficits, while Orlando Pirates and Red Arrows will look to build on their first-leg successes.

The narrow scorelines have kept both contests competitive, setting up potentially decisive return matches as the clubs continue their campaigns in the competition.

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