“We have ourselves to blame’
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday August 21, 2023 15:22
The two teams met at the National Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the first leg of the preliminary round. The Reds now carry a one goal deficit ahead of the away second leg tie.
Head coach, Pontsho Moloi believes it was an evenly contested match and GU have themselves to blame for the home defeat. “It was a very difficult game that we made for ourselves really.
A game whereby we should have been comfortable and won it; with a comfortable margin I must say. So it really leaves a sour taste on myself on how the game went, with the number of opportunities we had to score and so much creativity we had there. Otherwise we have to blame ourselves to be honest,” Moloi said.
The two teams were afforded early chances in the match as Fenohasina Razafimaro headed over the bar in the third minute for the visitors before Kennedy Amutenya directed his headed effort over the bar for GU on the fifth minute. Thero Setsile had the first shot on target on the ninth minute but it was well saved by the goalkeeper while Thatayaone Kgamanyane squandered a huge opportunity to give the Reds the lead on 17th minute. The forward was left with only the goalkeeper to beat but he lobbed his effort over the bar.
The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute when Morelin Raveloariasoana tried a shot from long range but his effort was parried back into Fenohasina Razafimaro’s path who slotted from close range to make it 1-0 for ELGECO PLUS. The home side tried to get back into the match but could not break a compact opposition’s defence. With a minute to the halftime break, Jean Aime Rakotoarisoa dropped the shoulder on his marker and went for the top corner but Ookeditse Semelamela splendidly tipped over the bar. On the first of the three additional minutes of the half, Poloko Nkalolang on his debut headed over the bar from Mpho Kgaswane’s free kick. GU trailed 1-0 at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, Kgaswane saw his effort parried back into play and met by Nkalolang whose header hit the post but Lebogang Ditsele on the follow up, shot wide off the gaping net. Kgaswane came close once again on the 58th minute but his free-kick attempt did not trouble the goalkeeper. Five minutes later, Kgamanyane met Mothusi Johnson’s free-kick with a header but he missed the goal by just a whisker. The Reds survived a late scare from the visitors as Semelamela came tops against Rakotoarisoa’s effort. Visiting coach, Raux Auguste despite the vital away win remains worried about the GU’s threat ahead of the second leg tie to be played in Madagascar this coming Sunday.
The teams:
GU: Ookeditse Semelamela, Alphord Velaphi (Onkabetse Makgantai), Kennedy Amutenya, Lebogang Ditsele, Mothusi Johnson, Karabo Phiri (Tshepo Maikano), Mothusi Cooper, Mpho Kgaswane, Thero Setsile, Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Poloko Nkalolang (Omphile Ramoagi)
ELGECO: Zakanirina Rakotohasimbola, Tony Randriamanampisoa, Niaina Ramahadrison, Morelin Raveloariasoana (Arison Jean Venon), Alexandre Rakotoson, Patrick Hasinirina, Jean Martin Rakotorina, Enersto Ranaivoson (Zola Raveloarison), Tiavanna Ralalarison, Jean Aime Rakotoarisoa, Fenohasina Razafimaro (Alexis Mbola)
Cautions: Tony Randriamanampisoa, Rakotorina, Hasinirina
GU ELGECO 1 (Razafimaro 25th)