Galaxy Mascom Top 8's Brightest Star
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 11, 2019 11:50
Galaxy, with the weekend’s triumph, moved a level with GU and Township Rollers as the tournament’s most successful teams with two titles each.
Playing in front of a near-capacity crowd, Galaxy showed their intentions early on.
GU goalkeeper, Goitseone Phoko was pulled into three saves in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Reds, however, came close on the 11th-minute after a good interchange between Dirang Moloi and Obonwe Maome, but the latter’s shot was blocked by the defence. Galaxy eventually took the lead on the 14th minute with Thero Setsile tapping in Tebogo Sembowa’s cross, beating the keeper to the bottom corner.
The winger got his second of the tournament a move to the top of the goalscorers’ charts.
Galaxy’s Fortunate Thulate tried to clear the ball but fell on Maome’s path.
The attacker tried to lob Ezekiel Morake but missed by just a whisker on the 36th minute. The Reds suffered an injury blow as Jerome Ramatlhakwana was replaced by Thatayaone Kgamanyane on the 40th minute as Galaxy held a 1-0 lead into the break.
Just six minutes in to the second half, Atisang Batsi doubled Galaxy’s lead after a good interchange of passes in the final third.
He beat Phoko to the right to give his side a cushion goal. Four minutes later, Kgamanyane beat his marker and went for the shot but the keeper made a save. On the other end, Phoko had to parry Batsi’s shot for a corner as the Galaxy Stars looked for more goals. On the 67th minute Kgamanyane went for a chip over the advancing keeper, but the shot went wide. Morake pulled in to making a double save on the 71st minute, he parried back in to play Maome’s shot before Patrick Kabamba shot straight into his hands.
On the 82nd minute after another good move by Galaxy at the edge of the box, Batsi shot straight into keeper’s hands.
The leading side started to showboat as Moyagoleele looked rather desperate to draw level in the final five minutes. The Galaxy Stars held on as coach Miguel da Costa earned his first ever title in Botswana just seven months after his appointment.
The Teams
GU: Phoko, Alford Velaphi, Gosegonna Molapisi, Tshepo Maikano, Godwin Bonsu, Gaopatwe Seosenyeng, Kabamba, Alphonse Modisaotsile, Ramatlhakwana (Kgamanyane), Moloi, Maome
Galaxy: Morake, Thabo Leinanyane, Moagi Sechele, Thulare, Thato Kebue, Lebogang Ditsele, Gilbert Baruti, Olebogeng Malebye (Kutlwelo Mpolokang), Tebogo Sembowa, Batsi, Thero Setsile (Gift Moyo)
GU 0
Galaxy 2 (Setsile 14th, Batsi 51st)