Zebras Clip Eagles� Wings
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday November 16, 2015 10:07
The visitors threatened first with a cross from key player, Bakary Sako on the left wing forcing Kabelo Dambe into a brave clearance.
However, the Zebras showed no respect for the big names in the Mali team as they settled into their game plan. Three minutes into the game, Mogakolodi Ngele combined well with Hendrick Moyo, and the latter did not shy away as he tested the Mali goalkeeper with a low drive.
Zebras pressed high forward and were quick to close their opponents. The Les Aigles who had their strongest players on the wing, Modibo Maiga and Sako, played a series of crosses into the box but the Zebras defence did well.
Thirteen minutes into the game, Ngele laid a pass to Kabelo Seakanyeng on the left wing and Seakanyeng pinpointed Tapiwa Gadibolae with a curling cross at the far post, which Gadibolae slotted into the net with a cool header to send the stadium into wild celebrations.
Momentarily, Mali was found wanting as the Zebras kept charging.
In the 23rd minute, Cisse Osseynou was charged for impeding Moyo, 25 yards from the box. Seakanyeng drove the ball into the box and Mogorosi controlled in front of the defence, turned and shot into the low corner to make it 2-0.
The second goal gave Zebras a boost in confidence, and briefly the home team ran riot.
For the better of the half, Mali tried to play from the wings and they forced the home team to concede many corners.
After recess, Mali substituted their goalkeeper to bring in Abdoulaye Diakite and the much-experienced goalkeeper brought shape to the defence. Mali came back a lot more physical as they tried to force themselves back into the game. In the 53rd minute, Samba Sow ran into the box and took a dive but escaped a card for simulation as he was flagged for offside.
The Eagles forced the Zebras to defend deep as they continued to build patiently with their wing attack strategy.
Maiga was allowed a lot of room on the right and he swung in a lot of balls into the box, but the Boitumelo Mafoko led defence did not breakdown.
Mali’s persistence with crosses finally paid in the 56th minute when Sako picked Moussa Marega with a cross which he headed down to set up Sow and the striker made no mistake with a low volley to reduce the deficit.
Five minutes later, the Zebras responded with Seakanyeng outrunning the Mali defence into the box and was brought down from the back but the referee waved play-on, a decision that did not go down well with the Zebras players and the strong crowd.
A minute later, tempers flared after Nato was fouled and a few players escaped with yellow cards in the process.
In the dying minutes, Zebras could have increased their tally. Mosha Gaolaolwe sent Lemponye Tshireletso through with a defence splitting pass and the Mochudi Centre Chiefs man pulled a textbook cross into the penalty area, but Omaatla Kebatho failed to connect and Mali escaped.
At the end, the Les Aigles walked out with an important away goal. The two teams clash tomorrow in Bamako in the return leg.
Botswana 2 (Tapiwa Gadibolae 13th, Joel Mogorosi 23rd)
Mali 1 (Samba Sow 56th)
Botswana: Kabelo Dambe, Boitumelo Mafoko, Tebogo Sesome, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Tapiwa Gadibolae (Lemponye Tshireletso), Ofentse Nato, Lebogana Ditsile, Mogakolodi Ngele, Kabelo Seakanyeng, Hendrick Moyo, Joel Mogorosi (Omaatla Kebatho)
Mali: Sissoko Oumar (Abdoulaye Diaby), Adama Taumbare, Cisse Osseynou, Yacouba Sylla, Modibo Maiga, Molla Wague, Bakary Sako, Mamoutou Ndiaye, Samba Sow (Birama Toure), Moussa Marega (Cheick Diabate), Osman Coulibally
Cautions
Botswana: Nato, Gaolaolwe, Kebatho
Mali: Sako, Maiga, Ndiaye
Referee: Ali Adelaid
Assistant Referees: Soulimane Amaldine, Hamadi Ibrahim