GU Complete Double Over Rollers
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 2, 2020 15:13
The Reds registered a 2-1 victory yesterday when the two giants clashed at the National Stadium.
Brian Botsang and Kaone van der Westhuizen got rare starts in Rollers line-up after the defending champions were hit by injuries. GU goalkeeper, Goitseone Phoko had to deal with a tricky free-kick from Onkarabile Ratanang in the first minute of the game.
The Reds took the lead in the 11th minute with Kekaetswe Moloi nodding in Thatayaone Kgamanyane’s flicked pass from close range.
The Reds dominated proceedings on the afternoon against a makeshift Rollers’ midfield. Popa struggled for the majority of the game with GU having an upper hand. Ratanang nearly levelled the scores from a direct corner kick. GU held a 1-0 lead into the break.
Eleven minutes into the second half, Obonwe Maome hit the top corner from outside the box. Popa eventually started to find their feet in the game. Against the run of play, GU were given a penalty after Arnold Mampori brought down Msani Thupa inside the box.
Kgamanyane stepped up and cheekily sent Rollers goalkeeper, Kabelo Dambe the wrong way to double his side’s lead.
Thupa was denied a goal derby when Dambe superbly denied him from close range in the 80th minute. Motsholetsi Sikele pulled one back with a curler from just outside the box. GU held on to complete a rare double derby win.
“We played so well today, we deserved to win. We were mature enough to get a goal and regroup then get another goal. We could have scored more but we missed chances. The game was more open in the second half,” GU’s coach Pontsho Moloi said after the game.
His counterpart, Rollers’ Frank Nuttall was an unhappy man, though philosophical about it, as he drew positives from the defeat.
“We created a number of chances, just needed to be more composed. I am disappointed to lose the game but we need to move forward. It’s life you know,” he said.
The Teams:
GU: Goitseone Phoko, Tshepo Maikano, Godwin Bonsu, Kennedy Amutenya, Michael Tinye, Lesego Galenamotlhale, Rentse Keakabetse (Lebopo Moremi), Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Alphonse Modisaotsile, Kekaetswe Moloi (Msani Thupa), Obonwe Maome (Mothata Lucas)
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Kamohelo Matsabu, Anorld Mampori, Kaone van der Westhuizen, Onkarabile Ratanang, Brian Botsang (Bame Morwalela), Lemponye Tshireletso, Edwin Moalosi, Tlhalefo Molebatsi, Tumisang Orebonye, Motsholetsi Sikele
GU 2 (Moloi 11th,
Kgamanyane 73rd, pen)
Rollers 1 (Sikele 82nd)