Orapa United Gets Advantage Against Coton Sports
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday October 18, 2021 16:00
It took just six minutes for the visitors to go for goal but Lesenya Malapela pulled up a routine save. On the 16th minute, Gofaone Mabaya had the first chance for home side but his long-range effort went over the bar.
Seven minutes later, Mbatshi Elias gave Orapa a lead with a beautifully taken goal from inside the box. The home side dictated the proceedings soon after the opener but Coton kept it tight at the back. Elias’ goal put the Ostriches in the lead at the break.
Just six minutes into the second half, Souaibou Marou put the scores level as the Ostriches were caught napping at the back. The home side beefed up its attacking line with the introduction of Thero Setsile and Omaatla Kebatho in place of Onkemetse Powe and Thabiso Boti respectively. The changes breathed life into their attack and were rewarded on the 61st minute. Skipper Thabang Mosige rose highest to nod in a free kick as his side regained the lead. The opposition pushed to get an equalising goal but the Ostriches held on until the last minute.
“It was a bad day in the office for my players but we will try to rectify our mistakes at home and seal qualification to the next stage. Today was one of our bad matches.
I do not know what happened. We are going to work to win and get the qualification,” Coton’s coach Soulemanou Aboubakar said after the match. His counterpart, Philemon Makwengwe said the plan was to not concede but was happy to bag a home win over the weekend. “We did not want to concede but we made blunders and we conceded. I will not take anything from my players. We just need to be ready for the next game and keep the same fighting spirit we had here,” he said. The return leg will be played on Saturday, October 23 at Yaoundé.
Orapa 2 ( Elias 23rd, Mosige 61st)
Coton 1 (Marou 51st)
The Teams:
Orapa: Lesenya Malapela, Mpho Kgaswane, Tlamelo Kolagano, Mooketsi Hlabano, Thabang Mosige, Tapiwa Nyamanjiva, Mbatshi Elias (Galabye Moyana), Gape Gaogangwe (Kagisano Mungu), Thabiso Boti (Omaatla Kebatho), Gofaone Mabaya, Onkemetse Powe (Thero Setsile)
Coton: Allambatnan Gadin, Ateba Christian