Da Costa Confident Ahead Of Semi-Final Draw
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday December 10, 2018 13:56
Galaxy came into the match with 2-0 advantages and reached the next round on a 3-0 aggregate.
The former champions became the first team to reach the semi-finals and the team’s coach, Miguel da Costa beamed with confidence ahead of a semi-final draw to be held this evening.
“A win is a win, we did not come here to push ourselves we just wanted to control the game. The opponents came at us tried to pick second balls and set pieces but we were a very competent team. Whoever comes, comes, we cannot choose. Only if I could, but I cannot choose, whoever comes we will have to prepare for them,” da Costa said after the game.
It was Galaxy who had a first sight at a goal as early as the first minute. Olebogeng Malebye at the end of a good move went for a shot just outside, but he hit the upright. In the 12th minute Tebogo Benjamin had his shot scrambled by Ezekiel Morake as Sharps looked to pull one back.
The visitors enjoyed a lion’s share of the ball possession as they sought to break the Sharps defence.
On the other end, midfielder, Lebogang Ditsele proved to be instrumental at the heart of the midfield as he intercepted a majority of the opposition passes. However, both sides had minimum chances in front of goal as the first half ended with the team logged at 0-0.
With both looking to put coaches’ instructions into practice, the visitors took the lead within three minutes of the second half. Tebogo Sosome tapped home a corner kick after the Sharps went napping.
Sharps tried to come back into the game, but could not break Galaxy’s resilient defence as they opted for long balls. Substitute, Obonye Marope came in close with a headed effort, but Morake parried for a corner in the 78th minute.
Four minutes later, Patrick Kaunda squared for Malebye whose was saved by the keeper. On 83rd minute, substitute Tebogo Sembowa went for a shot from and was superbly denied by Takudzwa Ndoro.
Four minutes later, Sembowa once again tried from outside the box and Ndoro came out superior. On the other end, the home showed rather desperate attempts to reduce the deficit, but could not overturn the scores.
“I think we played well, but we were down by own finishing. We tried to play the ball and open, but it was not to be for us today. We tried to play the ball and spread our play it is unfortunate that we could not get the result we wanted,” Sharps interim coach Kentse Motlhale said after the game.
The Teams:
Sharps: Ndoro, Bakani Madaiza, Benjamin, Lawrence Nduga, Gift Maworere, Charles Mujokeri (Malgas), Khumoetsile Kufigwa (Kago Segokgo) Emmanuel Nlu, Letlhogonolo Chenjela, Monageng Thaele, Allen Ndodole (Marope)
Galaxy: Morake, Isaac Peye, Moagi Sechele, Gofaone Molapi, Sosome, Ditsele, Gilbert Baruti (Senatla Molefe), Malebye, Kaunda, Atisang Batsi (Tebogo Sembowa), Thero Setsile (Karabo Phiri)
Caution: Malgas
Sharps 0
Galaxy 1 (Sosome 48th)