BMC hobble GU�s faltering title challenge
Chippa Legodimo | Monday March 24, 2014 16:03
The Reds had launched an early attack on BMC, but Daniel Nare’s charges quickly countered with a three-pass attack between goalkeeper Edwin Mokibe, Sageby Sandaka and Zikhale, which got the goal.
GU were not to be demoralised by that early stunner and quickly returned fire. They nearly leveled in the fourth minute when Mokibe parried the ball back into play. Zebras’ midfield dynamo, Jackie Mothatego arrived in time, but shot over the bar with the net at his mercy.
Sandaka caught his former teammates off guard in the 32nd minute with a long range shot that Noah Maposa fisted out for a corner.
As the two teams exchanged fire, Edwin Olerile of GU saw his nicely executed curling shot come off the top left corner and bounce back into play. Keen to secure the equaliser, GU pressed hard in the closing stages of the first stanza.
Ronald Chikomo surged forward and sent a dangerous low cross in front of goal but there was no one to capitalise.
Sensing danger, BMC reacted with a counter-attack, but their poor form in front of goal was exposed once again when veteran defender, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, dilly-dallied in the box instead of pulling the trigger after snaky run from deep.
Taking a vulnerable 1-0 lead to the break, BMC found themselves in the tight corner in the opening minutes of the last half.
Drama ensued as GU played the first five minutes of the game with only 10 men after Mandla Mgadla remained in the dressing room. Team officials only realised his absence from shouting fans.
A few minutes after he came back to the field, Mgadla, who had been suffocated by Kutlo Sejeso, was replaced with Karabo Phiri.
Frustration crept in as four shots came off BMC posts as the Reds fought back strongly. Mothatego was once again in the thick of things.
The towering Zebras schemer saw his effort blocked in the 68th minute by the alert Mokibe who spent most of the afternoon fisting balls he could have easily handled. GU sent in Mathews Moruti in the second half but he never troubled the BMC defence.