Rollers Crack The Whip

Koketso Kgoboge | Monday February 22, 2016 15:11

 

The game produced early drama, after Lesego Galenamotlhale’s mazy run ended with Simisani Mathumo clipping him in the box. Referee Joshua Bondo pointed to the spot and Tendai Nyumasi buried the spot kick to give Chiefs a second-minute lead.

The goal momentarily destabilised Rollers as they failed to link passes while Magosi played calmly.

But Popa were back on level terms in the 36th minute when Keabetswe Jenamiso fouled Moyana 20 yards out.

From the resulting free kick, Moyana curled over to beat Raphael Nthwane. Rollers surged ahead at the stroke of half time when Ontlatshekela Mooketsi took a long throw into the box and Joel Mogorosi’s flick found Maano Ditshupo who clipped the ball on the turn to find the back of the net. After the break, Rollers sat back to protect their lead and the Mogogi Gabonamong led defence denied Chiefs front men a foothold. Tshireletso had a half chance in the 59th minute, but Kabelo Dambe tipped his curler over the bar.

In the 77th minute, Gofaone Tiro entered the fray, twisted and turned Kaelo Kgaswane in the box before he beat the off-mark Nthwane in the near post to take a firm advantage going into the second leg in March. The three away goals should be enough to take Popa to the final.

Rollers coach, Mark Harrisson, was happy with the away win but remained cautious. “The job is not finished yet. We are only in the first half, but we have given ourselves some chance.

We got to finish the job in three weeks time. We still have to prepare for that game and we have a lot to do,” he said. His Magosi counterpart, Mike Sithole was fuming over officiating of the game.

“I cannot talk anything about the game. I am very annoyed; the boys played well and I can’t complain. They were focused and they wanted to win, but we were frustrated by the officiating,” said Sithole.

Chiefs: Raphael Nthwane, Othusitse Pilane, Kaelo Kgaswane, Thato Kebue, Keabetswe Jenamiso, Arnold Mampori, Lesego Galenamotlhale, Tendai Nyumasi, Thatayaone Ramtlapeng (Senatla Molefhe), Lemponye Tshireletso, Onalethata Tshekiso

Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, Mogogi Gabonamong, Simisani Mathumo, Otlantshekela Mooketsi, Lawrence Majawa, Maano Ditshupo, Ofentse Nato (Terence Mandaza), Galabgwe Moyana, Gofaone Tiro (Sekhana Koko), Joel Mogorosi

Cautions: Simisani, Gabonamong, Ditshupo, Kgaswane, Mampori

 

Rollers (2) 3 (Moyana 37th, Ditshupo 45th, Tiro 77th) 

Chiefs (1) 1 (Nyumasi 2nd)