South Africa's heavily-fancied Orlando Pirates crashed out of the African Champions League on Saturday, sensationally beaten 3-1 at home by TP Mazembe of the DR Congo.

It means Mazembe get a share of the lucrative television and marketing rights enjoyed by the last eight teams in the continent's top club competition.

Pirates had looked to be comfortably in control after drawing 1-1 away in Lubumbashi in the first leg.

Mazembe only got the draw with a last minute penalty.

But after a goalless first half on Saturday, Mazembe's veteran striker Kangwana Bazilepo put the large section of expatriate Congolese supporters into raptures with a goal to take the lead.

Pirates, whose performance throughout the 90 minutes was somewhat lack-lustre, equalised with 20 minutes left when defender Mbulelo Mabizela slipped the offside trap and struck home from close range.

Tunnel fight

But within two minutes Mazembe, who made it into the last eight last year, hit the killer blow through Mukabi Ilunga, giving them a second vital away goal.

Pirates, winners of the competition in 1995, were left having to score twice in the last 15 minutes.

But as they pushed forward Mazembe took advantage and Mbomboko Ngoy added a third after being played onside by Mabizela.

There were ecstatic scenes of celebration from the Congolese contingent and their supporters after a game which had been preceded by a fist fight in the tunnel between Mazembe officials and Pirates security.

The scuffle broke out as journalists tried to get copies of the Congolese starting line-up.

Only newly crowned champions Santos remain in African Club competitions for South Africa.

They play Ghana's Asante Kotoko on Sunday in Kumasi, after being held to a 3-3 draw in Cape Town in the first leg of their African Cup Winners' Cup second round tie.