Wanderers Keep Chase Alive With City Greens Rout
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday January 14, 2019 12:19
The pacesetters (TAFIC) walloped Sua Flamingoes 2-0 in Sowa Town on the same day. The gap between the two remains four points.
Wanderers completely dominated City Greens and created an avalanche of chances in front of goal, but were not clinical. They could have easily wrapped the encounter in the first half. The hosts forced City on the back foot from the first whistle with four corners in the opening 10 minutes.
Their first sniff at goal came through Thopho Motheng’s diving header, but the goalkeeper did enough to parry back into play and his defender was on hand to clear the danger.
On the 12th minute, Master Masitara’s half volley sailed inches wide. Unmarked Thabo Wetshoemang sent a shot over the bar from a good position in front of the box.
Wanderers broke the duck in the 21st minute from Masitara’s well-taken corner.
Captain, Tshepo Baipoledi rose higher than the rest to direct his header across and beat the goalkeeper to the far post.
After the goal, the hosts became too casual, and City Greens worked themselves back into the game. They were disappointed by lack of cohesion and lost possession easily.
City registered their first shot at goal in the 26th minute through an Unami Senzeni’s attempt that was off target. They found composure at the back and repelled Wanderers attacks well until the break.Kgololo Kgogobi wasted a sitter in the first minute from the dugout.
Onkgolotse Senatla posted a cross that Thatayaone Magazi flicked into Kgogobi’s path inside the 16-yard box, but the latter’s touch went outside the upright.
Wanderers took control of the game once again, but continued to disappoint upfront.
It took two substitutions to make the difference. Keaboka Madome and Mogodi Seithamo came in for Senatla and Wetshoemang respectively in the 70th minute.
Ten minutes after introduction, Madome lofted a free kick into the box as Magazi cushioned a header for Seithamo and the nippy midfielder tapped home.
Four minutes later Kgogobi curled a delicate cross across the goalmouth and Madome slotted home from the blind spot.
Mamoja attempted a fight back, but were cancelled out.City Greens, Johnsen Moisakwena bemoaned lack of proper training due to the rains. “A lot did not go well. We lacked communication, the tempo was too high and our concentration levels disappointed, but all this is due to lack of proper training,” he said.
His Wanderers counterpart, Boyo Radipotsane was happy with the maximum points.
“This is the first game after the festive season and a lot could have gone wrong. We missed many chances, but I can’t complain. I am happy with the response and the three points.”
The Teams
Wanderers: Ontiretse Kolobe, Kelepile Terata, Motheng, Wetshoemang (Seithamo), Baipoledi, Thabo Moroka, Senatla (Madome), Kgogobi, Masitara, Magazi (Thato Odirile), Comfort Dikupa
City Greens: Keotshepile Nkonopang, Senzeni, Emmanuel Tshumo (Jackson Motswasele), Editor Otladitswe (Keamogetse Balemogi), Bakang Malabola, Kemoneetse Mangwedi, Bongani Kanyi, Prince Moseki, Modiri Mbise, Kudzanani Alfred, Moathodi Bigman
Caution: Baipoledi
Wanderers (1) 3 (Baipoledi 21st, Seithamo 80th, Madome 84th)
City Greens 0