Galaxy Stars Too Bright For Sechaba
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday November 15, 2021 16:00
The quarterfinal match played at Lobatse Sports Complex under floodlights on Friday, had all ingredients of a cup tie, seven yellow cards, two dismissals and five goals scored in one half. From the start, the match was entertaining as inside the first 10 minute, Gilbert Baruti and Thabo Leinanyane had shots at goal for Galaxy while Sthembile Mbuqe had one on the other side but all did not trouble the two goalkeepers. In the 20th minute, Baruti then got to the end of a good move by Galaxy but he shot over the crossbar.
Nine minutes later, Galaxy came close once again but Sesinyi's header missed the goal by just a whisker. Aobakwe Tshobo on the other end saw his shot sail over the bar on the half hour mark. Moagi Sechele found himself inside the box with only the goalkeeper to beat but Thomas Manyelela came out tops on the 37th minute as chances flew by on both ends.
On referee's additional minutes, Baruti struck the upright from just outside the box as the the two teams went into the half time break tied at 0-0. Just three minutes into the second half, Tshobo gave Notwane the lead with a beautifully struck freekick. The goalkeeper had a touch but could not keep it out. Galaxy equalised on the 64th minute when Manyelela spilled a cross and Lucky Mokoena was there to pounce. A minute later, substitute Resaobaka Thatanyane headed into the near post to give Galaxy the lead. It was 3-1 in just four minutes as Mokoena doubled his goals on the 68th minute as he sliced one into the bottom corner. Substitute Doctor David was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card on the 79th minute.
He was cautioned at the start of the second half whilst he was still on the bench. Galaxy were two men down as Leinanyane got his second yellow card on the 81st minute. On the dying minutes of the tie, Thatanyane got his brace with a simple tap in to an empty net to make it 4-1. "To say we let it slip is an understatement, we threw it away. This was a game where there was a party in the first half and a funeral in the second. We knew Galaxy was going to play the balls long and we contained them in the first half. In the second half until the mistake by the goalkeeper, everything fell apart. Immediately after that they got the second goal. They were eight on the field and still got the fourth goal, that should not have happened," Notwane coach, Oupa Kowa said after the match. His counterpart, Morena Ramoreboli on the other hand was happy with the result but bemoaned "harsh" red cards.
The Teams:
Galaxy: Anthony Gouws, Leinanyane, Mphoyamodimo Keiponye, Lesego Keredilwe, Sechele, Tshepang Boithatelo (Boikobo Osupile (Isaac Paeye), Baruti, Olebogeng Malebye, Sesinyi (Tebogo Sembowa), Lemogang Maswena (Thatanyane), Mokoena (David)
Notwane: Manyelela, Kereng Mpetang, Zidane Kofa, Brian Botsang, Katlego Koobake, Thato Moganana, Thato Mogorosi, Mbuqe, Jarona Jarona (Karabo Rabasadi), Tshobo, Israel (Charles Mujokeri) Cautions: Sesinyi, Malebye, Leinanyane, David, Thatanyane, Israel, Kofa
Dismissals: David, Leinanyane
Galaxy 4 (Mokoena 64th, 68th, Thatanyane 65th, 90+2) Notwane 1 (Tshobo 48th)