Gallant GU In Third Top 8 Final
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday February 11, 2019 13:35
The two teams were level on a 3-3 aggregate after GU beat the defending champions 3-1 in the second leg of the tie played under floodlights at the National Stadium on Saturday. Popa had held a comfortable 2-0 lead from the first leg, but Moyagoleele showed character to eliminate their city rivals.
The game, that dished the best of the local football, saw 11 rounds of penalty kicks and a dismissal after extra time.
But it was the Reds who showed their intentions as early as the fifth minute, with Obonwe Maome heading Dirang Moloi’s free kick over the bar. In the 20th minute, Patrick Kabamba centred the ball for Rentse Keakabetse but he hit the lower upright as GU chased an early goal.
Popa had their say just five minutes later, Kagomelo Matsabu found himself in a good spot but could only shoot straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. GU may have felt robbed after Moloi was brought down just in front of the box. The team appealed for penalty, but the referee gave a free kick instead. With three minutes left to the break, Moloi found Kabamba with a pass, but the striker shot to the goalkeeper.
Just before half time, Maome squeezed a through ball for Thatayaone Kgamanyane who beat the offside trap and buried past Keoagile Kgosipula to give his side the lead going into the break.
And 10 minutes into the second half, Moloi beat the offside trap and went for a chip but Kgosipula parried it for a corner.
In the 73rd minute Moloi came close with a cheeky effort from a free kick, which nearly caught Kgosipula off guard, but he parried over the bar. GU got their equaliser with seven minutes to time. Maome left Kgosipula motionless with a long range effort from outside the box. The Reds nearly got the winner after Moloi found Kgamanyane with a through ball with only the goalkeeper to beat, but Gaolaolwe blocked his shot. A minute later saw another missed chance by GU. Moloi laid for Gaopatwe Seosenyeng from inside the box, but the latter shot over the bar as the teams went into extra time.
Rollers nearly got their goal just eight minutes into extra time, but Orebonye directed his shot towards Goitseone Phoko. In the 14th minute of extra time GU yet with another move, pulled a splendid save from the goalkeeper. Popa were reduced to 10 men at half time as substitute, Motsholetsi Sikele was shown a straight red card. In 109th minute what looked like a not-so threatening ball, caught the defence off guard and Orebonye nodded in to score. Five minutes later, the referee awarded GU a penalty after Ramatlhakwana was brought down. Maome stepped up but could only hit the upright.
Just two minutes to time Kabamba’s low taken cross found Moloi unmarked at the far post, he slotted home to send the teams to a penalty shootout. After 10 rounds of kicks, substitute Joel Mogorosi’s kick hit the upright sending GU to their third Mascom Top 8 final.
The Teams:
GU: Phoko, Alphord Velaphi, Alphonse Modisaotsile, Godwin Bonsu, Gosegonna Molapisi, Seosenyeng, Keakabetse (Ramatlhakwana), Kabamba, Moloi, Kgamanyane, Maome
Rollers: Kgosipula, Matsabu (Mogorosi), Mosha Goalaolwe, Ofentse Nato, Kaone van fer Westhuizen, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Maano Ditshupo, Ivan Ntenge, Segolame Boy (Onkarabile Ratanang), Lemponye Tshireletso (Motsholetsi Sikele), Orebonye
Cautions: Goalaolwe, Seosenyeng, Kgamanyane
Dismissal: Sikele
GU 3 (Kgamanyane 45th, Maome 83rd,)
Rollers 1 (Orebonye 109th)