Matjimenyenga Satisfied With Wanderers Draw
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday February 11, 2019 13:35
The encounter had attracted a full house at the Pilikwe Grounds. Although the top of the table clash did not live up to its billing, Matjimenyenga coach, Elias Chinyemba expressed his happiness after the final whistle.
The game was tactically closed. Chinyemba said they had expected the situation and it panned out exactly how they had planned.
He said Wanderers were not going to be a walk in the park and they had planned for a point and maximum points would have been a bonus.
He said the worst would have been to allow Wanderers to leapfrog them. To contain the danger, Chinyemba said they brought in six defenders, an attacking midfielder and three runners.
“They are not second by a fluke, and we would not want to chase them. We could not afford to lose. I am happy the boys played according to our script. It was not pretty, but we got exactly what we planned for and we are happy,” he said.
The encounter started well, igniting sparks from the first whistle. The hosts were first to challenge.
They pressed TAFIC high and had two corner kicks on top of the opening minute. TAFIC were able to clear and immediately attack shifted to the other end.
Batisani Josiah found Rebaone Modisaotsile on the right side of the box with a lofted pass. Modisaotsile drilled a hard and low cross past the goalmouth.
But Uyapo Thibathuwe at the other end saw his connection cleared off the line.
After a great opening, the attacks wilted. The teams cancelled each other well in the midfield and lacked cohesion. They attempted a long ball play but lacked when it mattered.
Wanderers won a series of free kicks in good positions, and good crosses were delivered but they lacked hunger in the box.
TAFIC defence nearly broke the deadlock on the 20th minute when Goabaone Selefa let a ball slip past him. Master Masitara pounced and the goalkeeper responded quickly on his line to clear the danger.
For the better half of the game, TAFIC sat assuredly and they did not force attacks and cleared wayward balls that came their way.
They went to break and did not alter the defensive shape when they returned for the final stanza. Both teams continued with long ball play. They failed to knit three passes on the carpet.
Samuel Phiri had the first shot of the half 10 minutes after the restart. Wanderers responded with a neat interchange from Masitara and Bakang Mokgoloke but the former’s half volley sailed inches out. TAFIC’s substitute Upoga Dakesha dribbled past three defenders from the left into the box but his end shot went wide.
The referee saved TAFIC some blushes on the 88th minute when he disallowed Masitara’s goal for an offside.
A minute later, Kgololo Kgogobi drilled a goal-bound outside foot rocket from 35 yards and the TAFIC goalkeeper was alert to parry over the bar for a corner.
Wanderers’ coach Boyo Radipotsane said they needed the luck to put the ball behind the net.
He said all is not lost and they will maintain the title challenge.
“A goal from either side could have won this game. It was a tough game, but we showed character. We will continue with our chase. We will put pressure on them and we will see how it ends,” he said.
The teams:
Wanderers: Ontiretse Kolobe, Thopho Motheng, Kelepile Terata, Tshephang Boithatelo, Tebogo Moroka, Thabo Wetshoeang (Keaboka Madome), Comfort Dikupa, Masitara, Mokgoloke, Katlego Ralegoreng (Samuel Makgoro), Gosaitse Manuel (Kgogobi)
TAFIC: Abednico Morapedi, Kabelo Makhura, Thato Mosweu, Bokamoso Mbambo, Selefa, Buyani Kgomotso, Thibathuwe, Phiri, Kemoreng Batisani (Dakesha), Josiah (Mogomotsi Samson), Modisaotsile