Galaxy Close In On Rollers
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 20, 2017 16:14
Marksman Tendai Nyamadzawo returned for Chiefs after missing two weeks of football while Mike Sithole rested six of his key players.
Four minutes into the game, Jerome Ramatlhakwana flicked a corner kick, Charles Mutero lunged onto the ball but his effort went over. In the 16th minute, Gilbert Baruti found Keaotshepa Omphile with a through ball but the winger skied his effort with only the keeper to beat. Defender Charles Mutero could only hit the cross bar from Dirang Moloi’s corner kick in the 25th minute. Galaxy enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession and threatened when ever they got into the opponents’ half. Two minutes to the break, Pako Lekgari curled in a corner from the left, Christopher Musonda missed the target with a free header. The teams went into the break level at zero all.
Chiefs suffered an injury blow two minutes into the second half, Othusitse Pilane had to be stretched off, with Goitseone Legopelo taking his place. Lesego Galenamotlhale tried Ezekiel Morake from outside the box, but the keeper parried for a corner. Absalom Limbondi also tried his luck but Morake well collected two minutes later. Fans grew frustrated as both teams failed to create goal scoring chances. The much awaited goal came in the 77th minute when substitute Wilfred Dithwane headed home a corner with his first touch of the game. Chiefs tried to salvage a draw but their efforts went in vain. Their last chance came in the 89th minute with Ramatlhakwana unleashing a shot from outside the box, but the keeper collected well. The loss took Chiefs to a three game winless streak. “We played a second string Galaxy. It beats me that we did play at all. They got one chance and they scored. I am not happy at all,” Chiefs coach, Bongani Mafu said after the game. “Most of the boys played their first game. It is important that we give them game time. We took a gamble, we played with almost half a team and I am happy with their performance,” Galaxy coach, Mike Sithole said.
The teams
Chiefs: Noah Maposa, Othusitse Pilane(Goitseone Legopelo), Charles Mutero, Thato Kebue, Ontse Ntesa, Lesego Galenamotlhale, Lesego Molemogi, Dirang Moloi(Senatla Molefe), Absalom Limbondi, Jerome Ramatlhakwana, Tendai Nyamadzawo
Galaxy: Ezekiel Morake, Thabo Leinanyane, Boitumelo Mafoko, Tebogo Moroka, Pako Lekgari, Musa Ohilwe, Gilbert Baruti,Keaotshepa Omphile(Wilfred Dithwane), Peter Olangi(Thero Setsile)Tebogo Sembowa, Christopher Musonda
Cautions: Ntesa, Setsile, Nyamadzawo
Chiefs 0
Galaxy 1 (Dithwane 77th)