Chiefs keep hopes alive
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday May 3, 2016 14:30
Nico started their game like a house on fire with Innocent Sikhungu’s header from a corner kick cleared off the line by Senatla Molefe in just the third minute.
The visitors once again came close to breaking the deadlock four minutes later, but Christopher Musonda’s header went over the bar. Chiefs’ first genuine chance of the game came in the 17th minute when Onalethata Tshekiso, unmarked at the edge of the box, shot straight at the keeper. Five minutes later, Chiefs hit the net through Tendai Nyumasi’s header from a rebound but the effort was ruled offside. Lemponye Tshireletso broke the deadlock with a free kick that deflected off the wall at the stroke of half time.
Majomobolo took the game to Chiefs in the second half in search of an equaliser while Chiefs tried to get down to their usual carpet football. In the 71st minute, Musonda captilised from a mistake at the back and beat Mmopoloki Sephekolo at the near post to level matters.
Eight minutes later, Othusitse Pilane put a telling cross into the box but Nyumasi failed to hit the net as his header went over the bar. With six minutes to full time, Onalethata Tshekiso headed in a corner from Tshireletso to give Chiefs the lead.
Chiefs were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes after Tshireletso was brought down in the box, the attacker stepped up and slotted at the far post sending Kagiso Rankabekwa the wrong way.
Losing coach, Peter Muchinya felt that his team could have easily won the game but they shot themselves in the foot.
“We gave away the game, we made silly mistakes. Our defending was not up to scratch. A player broke through two defenders we don’t mark that way,” he said.
His opposite number, Mike Sithole, said: “We started well, but in the first half the game was disturbed by the too many stoppages. In the second the game was different after we made changes. I’m glad we went until the last minute.”
Chiefs: Mmopoloki Sephekolo, Othusitse Pilane, Thato Kebue, Kaelo Kgaswane, Ontse Ntesa, Lesego Galenamotlhale, Tendai Nyumasi, Pontsho Moloi (Arnold Mampori), Senatla Molefe (Thatayaone Ramatlapeng), Lemponye Tshireletso, Onalethata Tshekiso
Nico: Kagiso Rankabwekwa, Nelson Moreetsi, Trinity Nko, Lucas Mothata, Ronald Ramokgadi (Vincent Marumo), Innocent Sikhungu, Oteng Legwaila, Khumoetsile Kufigwa, Christopher Musonda, Gift Moyo, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe
Cautions: Mothata, Nko
Chiefs 3 (Tshireletso 45+2, 90+3, Tshekiso 74th)
Nico 1 (Musonda 71st