Rollers Pound Hapless Highlanders

Koketso Kgoboge | Monday February 4, 2019 16:00

 

The log leaders settled well and controlled the opening minutes with a tiki-taka style of play, but it was the hosts who created the first chance.

Against the run of play in the sixth minute, Otlarongwa Nthumolang posted a long cross into the box. Bame Morwalela rose higher in the 16 yards, but redirected his header wayward.

Rollers became a bit untidy and the hosts picked paces. Despite seeing a little of the ball, it was Highlanders who were knocking at the goals, but were let down by poor finishing.

It took a brilliant combination between Segolame Boy and Lemponye Tshireletso for the visitors to burst the dam.

Boy laid into Tshireletso’s deadly left foot on the 22nd minute and he cheekily rolled the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom right.

It was 2-0 three minutes later. The goalkeeper parried Boy’s 20-yard free kick and Maano Ditshupo profited. The two goals put Highlanders under immense pressure. Rollers attacked from all fronts. They missed two successive attempts on the 33rd minute.

Kamogelo Matsabu made it 3-0 in the 38th minute. Joel Mogorosi combined well with Boy and when the latter rolled a pass into the box, Matsabu was quick to poke home.

Rollers returned from the break with a similar discipline.

They came close in the 56th minute when Cooper set Boy with a defence-splitting pass, but the goalkeeper was quick off his line to clear the danger.

However, Rollers made it four immediately after when Matsabu posted a pinpoint cross to Mogorosi who masterfully converted to the far post. The deficit was too much for BR Highlanders who played at a pedestrian pace and Ofentse Nato-led defence was unrelenting.

Matsabu could have buried Highlanders in the 72nd minute when he took defenders for pace into the box, but he saw his effort sail inches past the far post.

Tumisang Orebonye produced a stunning goal in the 78th minute.

He skillfully received a Thatayaone Ditlhokwe’s seemingly innocuous  cross and unleashed a thunderbolt into the top left corner. Mogorosi then scored the sixth of the day after being set up by Galagwe Moyana.

Rollers’ coach, Rodolfo Zapata gave the victory to the players. “The boys did everything to the textbook. They created and scored, credit goes to them,” he said.

His Highlanders counterpart, Kabo Dinkwana said he lost the game in the midfield. “It was the first time we made such mistakes. They literally walked past our midfield and took their chances,” he said.

 

The teams:

Highlanders: Lapologang Molatlhegi, Mompati Oabile, Setshwaneng Oletile, Keabetswe Obonetse, Leteng Legopelo, Moatlhodi Sam (Goitseone Legopelo), Kealeboga Oitsile, Temo Kemoreile, Morwalela (Remmington Masuku), Mogakolodi Balatotse, Nthumolang (Tumo Keiketlile)

Rollers: Keeagile Kgosipula, Matsabu,  Ditlhokwe, Kaone Van Der Westhuizen, Ofentse Nato, Ivan Ntege, Maano Ditshupo (Tshepo Motlhabankwe),  Mogorosi, Cooper,  Boy (Moyana),  Tshireletso (Orebonye)

Caution: Van Der Westhuizen