Miscellaneous, Gunners In Classic Stalemate
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday February 18, 2019 11:45
Goals usually define a football match, but the two sides played an exciting goalless encounter of two halves with the visitors dictating terms in the opening stanza and the hosts laying siege in the second.
Gunners were all over Miscellaneous from the first whistle with incredible one-touch manoeuvres on the carpet that had their followers on toes the entire half. They started to play at the back and cruised past their opponent’s midfield to the front.
They created a number of chances and had one, two many touches in the box but failed to make them count. The hosts were chasing shadows and their attempts to match the classy Gunners carpet football lacked precision and often gave away possession.
In a host of chances, Gunners came close in the 20th minute. Kudzanani Machadzani skillfully sliced past the defender into the box but shot straight to the goalkeeper.
Miscellaneous first attempt at goal came on top of the half-hour mark when a Bokani Loeto long clearance nearly caught Katlego Mbise off guard, but the Gunners goalkeeper recovered to fingertip over the crossbar.
Eight minutes later the experienced Desire Bafana saw his unmarked header from the top of the 16-yard mark sail wide when Brian Mankanku had picked him with a pinpoint free kick.
Mankanku’s last attempt before the break produced a fine save from Basimanebotlhe Moilwa after Machadzani had sent him through with a defence-splitting pass.
From the break, Gunners coach, Pontsho Moloi made a switch bringing in the speedy Baokeditse Talane for Thabiso Tokafalo.
Talane made an immediate impact. He took his marker for passes into the left side of the 16-yard box, and his attempt on goal was met with a timely tackle from Mponang Mponang.
Miscellaneous switched the gears and poured at the other end. They created a host of chances but either failed to pick a spot on target or shot wayward.
From a brisk 55th minute counter-attack, Chicco Molefe picked Waitse Modiko with a stupendous cross at the far end. With all the time, Modiko controlled and disappointedly tamed his low drive and the goalkeeper collected.
In one of the rare chances in the second half, Gunners wizard Ogomoditswe Sitang saw his hour mark curler kiss the top of the crossbar. Lynoth Chikuhwa saw his well-connected header from a corner cleared on top of the line on the 70th minute.
Gunners were lucky to escape Miscellaneous onslaught when Machadzani saw his attempted clearance from Molefe’s cross hit his upright in the dying minutes of the game. In additional time Miscellaneous had two corner kicks and a 20-yard free kick but failed to profit. Their coach, Otsile Koolese said finishing continues to haunt his side. “Poor finishing defines our season. We do everything right but fail to put the ball behind the net. We address it every week, but our attackers still disappoint.
This is a game we should have gotten maximum points,” he said.
Moloi applauded his charges for the first half display. He said the second half was a different ball game and it wasn’t according to his half time talk.
“It is something I would like to know from the boys. They gave away their control in the second half and I don’t know why. It nearly cost us, but I am happy with a point.”
The teams:
Miscellaneous: Kagiso Moganetsi (Basimanebotlhe Moilwa), Loeto, Molefe, Mothata Lucas, Mponang, Thabo Mosielele, Modiko (Atang Morwamang), Simon Osupile, Chikuhwa, Bhekuyise Kunene (Mooketsi Gareonne), King Mokgatlhane
Gunners: Katlego Mbise, Katlego Mothibi, Tlokafalo (Talane), Bafana, Tendai Kesekile, Obonye Moswate, Brian Mankanku (Anderson Makolantwana), Mosimanegape Ntwaetsile, Lungisani Fanyani (Pako Moloi),
Machadzani, Sitang
Cautions: Molefe, Sitang, Machadzani
Miscellaneous 0
Gunners 0