Lions clip Ostriches� wing
Koketso Kgoboge | Tuesday May 3, 2016 14:30
Lions 1-0 win put a heavy dent on Orapa’s league title pursuit.The game begun at a snail’s pace under blistering temperatures, but the home side had two chances in the opening minutes.
First chance fell to Ronald Chikomo who received Patrick Lenyeletse’s pass only to shoot over unmarked.
Moments later, Lenyeletse connected well with a Kealeboga Molebatsi’s cross but he watched as his goal-bound header deflected for a corner. Gilport Lions broke the deadlock in the 26th minute as Kenanao Kgetholetsile climbed highest to flick a long ball onto Kabelano Mooketsane’s path. Mooketsane made no mistake and buried into the top right corner. Eight minutes later, Chikomo who was continually unruly increased Orapa’s woes. He received a yellow card for a foul and his protests earned him a second and he was sent marching.
Olekantse Mambo had a chance to equalise. Mooketsi Hlabano picked him with a long corner at the back post, but Mambo’s header went agonisingly wide.
For the better part of the half Lions sat back and frustrated Orapa’s attacks. It could have been two in the 54th minute. Kgetholetsile cushioned Chrispen Mbewe’s cross into Matthews Nyamadzawo’s path, but the alert Kabo Mungabe threw his body into Nyamadzawo’s shot to deflect for a corner.
Orapa’s day was summed up in the 75th minute when Lenyeletse powered past Sekgabo Molebatsi and chipped a cross above the attacking goalkeeper, but Thabang Sesinyi could not climb high enough and his header from the 16 yard went over an open net.
Orapa’s coach, Madinda Ndlovu said it was not their day. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but clearly they (Lions) were hungrier than us. They scored a well calculated goal and we got a red card, not that we condone the behaviour but it was not meant to be,” he said.
His Gilport Lions counterpart, Paradzayi Mandivenga said a win was a bonus. “Our plan was to get a draw. We came here with a defensive plan and we scored first, they got a red and we knew they were going to keep coming but all in all I am happy my boys stood their ground.”
Orapa United: Mosimanegape Robert, Kealeboga Molebatsi, Patrick Motsepe, Mooketsi Hlabano, Kabo Mungabe, Olekantse Mambo, Mgcini Sibanda (Tumelo Mazebedi), Thabang Sesinyi, Patrick Lenyeletse, Baboloki Makhura, Ronald Chikomo
Gilport Lions: Katlego Mbise (Moathodi Ndana), Sekgabo Molebatsi, Bonang Monyatsi, Tumisang Sekanonyane, Chrispen Mbewe, Lebogang Ditsile, Kabelano Mooketsane(Upoga Dakesha), Kenanao Kgetholetsile (Unobatsha Mbaiwa), Matthews Nyamadzayo, Kenamile Mani, Kabo Rasuping
Cautions: Lebogang Ditsile, Nyamadzawo, Mani
Dismisal: Chikomo
Orapa United (0) 0
Gilport Lions (1) 1 Mooketsane 26th