Gaborone giants face diamond sides in FA Cup quarterfinals
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday April 16, 2024 09:53
The FA Cup's most successful team and defending champions, Gaborone United (GU) will take on league champions, Jwaneng Galaxy while Township Rollers face Orapa United.
The two Gaborone giants will play at home. The Reds sailed through to the last eight with a 6-5 win in the penalty shootout against Security Systems in a last 16 round tie played at the Dinaledi Football Academy Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Four minutes into the tie, GU had a penalty appeal after Mpho Kgaswane went down inside the box but it fell on the referee’s deaf ears.
Three minutes later, Tatenda Gora directed his header into the goalkeeper’s hands as GU chased an early goal. The Reds came closer on the 16th minute when Mothusi Johnson centred a pass for Molaodi Tlhalefang but the latter missed the goal by just inches before Mwampule Masule tipped Alphord Velaphi's long range effort a minute later.
Masule was called into action once again on the 38th minute to pull a save with his legs. The two teams went into break level at 0-0. From the break, Gora easily gave possession away only for Thato Ogopotse to shoot wide off the post on the 56th minute. Substitute, Albert Nyamutsaka put in a teasing cross and it was met by Sheikh Sesay whose shot went wide off the post on the 65th minute.
Thabo Motswagole came out and horrendously missed a save but GU was relieved whe Lebogang Ditsele blocked Bokang Rathipana’s effort on the 78th minute. GU made a late change as Ookeditse Semelamela replaced Motswagole ahead of the shootout. The lanky goalkeeper saved the sixth kick by Rathipana to send GU through.
The teams
Systems: Mwampule Masule, Larona Modisaemang, Michael Tinye, Walter Sande, Bophelo Macheng, Tawana Mbakile, Tebogo Kopelang, Thato Ogopotse, Morris Rusivo (Raymond Wetshooteng), Christopher Lemme (Bokang Rathipana), Emmanuel Agyei
GU: Thabo Motswagole (Ookeditse Semelamela), Alphord Velaphi, Tatenda Gora, Tshepo Maikano, Mothusi Johnson, Lebogang Ditsele, Karabo Phiri (Mothusi Cooper), Mpho Kgaswane (Poloko Nkalolang), Sheikh Sesay, Ronel Manyanga (Albert Nyamutsaka), Molaodi Tlhalefang Cautions: Kopelang, Tinye, Ogopotse, Mbakile, Kgaswane, Gora, Semelamela
Systems 0 (5) GU 0 (6)