Notwane, Sankoyo in an exciting draw
Boniface Keakabetse | Monday March 23, 2015 14:22
Toronto started the game a better side dominating the first 25 minutes of the first half. Lemogang Maswena and Zebron Nbjovu were a menace in the Sankoyo defence in the early stages of the game, troubling the normally resolute Modiredi Matengu in the Sankoyo defence. Sankoyo made two changes to their last starting eleven against Township Rollers a fortnight ago.
Gaongalelwe Dipateletso partnered Omaatla Kebatho in the attack while Wazha Seleka also started in the midfield in place of Mmoloki Kafuko. However, Notwane were more enterprising in the beginning stages of the game.
Sankoyo started enjoying possession in the last quarter of the first stanza. Ngurungu created more scoring chances through Morris Ruzivo, but as in their previous game against Rollers, they squandered them.
Notwane was the first to score in the in the 40th minute through Lemogang Maswena from a counter attack. Maswena connected a cross from Langa Mabuli. Sankoyo equalised four minutes later with a thunderbolt from their new recruit from ECCO City Greens, Omaatla Kebatho.
In the second half, Sankoyo continued where they left off, piling pressure on Notwane, which were forced to rely on counter attacks.
The pressure paid off six minutes into the second half when Gaongalelwe Dipateletso outpaced his marker to slot in past Notwane goalkeeper after a back heal pass from Morris Ruzivo.
Sankoyo found their third goal in the 61th minute from a penalty kick by Ruzivo after Notwane midfielder, Keorapetse Seloiso handled the ball in the box. However, in the last 15 minutes, Notwane got back into the match. They found a second goal from a counter attack when Zebron Nbjovu finished in a cross.
The equaliser came in the dying minutes of the game from Emmanuel Masisi’s header who benefited from poor defending by Sankoyo defence.
Sankoyo coach, Philani Mabhena said in a post match interview that poor defending and not taking their chances were their main undoing.
He said they need to improve on their finishing adding that the fact that they do not have a goalkeeper coach is costing them dearly. “We suffered the same way as in our game against Rollers conceding unnecessarily. This is because we do not have a goalkeeper coach.”
Notwane coach, Tirafalo Mogorosi said his team showed character by coming back from 3-1 to level matters. He said although this was their home game, it was a tough game since they played Sankoyo in its home stadium. “They piled pressure on us, but we just sat back, gave them space and hit back on a counter” he said.
The line-ups:
Sankoyo: Basimanebotlhe Moilwa, Kealeboga Molebatsi, Refilwe Senyane, Modiredi Matengu, Wazha, Seleka, Morris Ruzivo, Omatla Kebatho (Thato Monowe), Gaongalelwe Dipateletso (Thandazane Ndlovu), Thero Setsile, Jackson Lesole, Lesego Matoteng
Notwane: Itumeleng Selepa, Kereng Mpetang, Oabile Makopo, Gagontle Marumo, Lewis Sekwainyana, Amos Godirwang, Lemogang Maswena, Keorapetse Seloiso (Thato Mogorosi), Langa Mabuli, Sithembile Mbuque, Zebron Nbjovu (Emmanuel Masisi)
Notwane 3 (Maswena 40th,
Njobu 82nd, Masisi 90th)
Sankoyo 3 (Kebatho 44th,
Dipateletso 51st, Rozivo 61st)