Hat Trick Hero Maome Buries Gunners
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday December 11, 2017 16:58
GU won 3-2 to dump Gunners 6-2 on aggregate.
The striker’s hat trick followed a brace he scored against Gunners in the first leg of the Mascom Top 8 quarterfinals played a week ago. The 21-year-old Maome, who was in mean mood, scored his first goal past a helpless Gunners goalkeeper Katlego Mbise on the 32nd minute of the first half.
He skillfully dribbled past a Gunners defender before releasing a rocket that Mbise only managed to parry into the net.
The goal seemed to have buried all hopes Gunners had of miraculously staging a comeback. After the game, GU coach Rodolfo Zapata sang praises of the youngster saying that with proper guidance, Maome will one day become a global star.
The game also saw Gunners missing glorious opportunities, the main culprit being veteran striker, Kenanao ‘Flo’ Kgetholetsile. The latter missed a glorious opportunity in the 12th minute after he looped the ball over GU goal minder Goitseone Phoko only for his shot to hit the upright.
‘Flo’ will later miss other easy chances mainly because of his indecisiveness in the 18th area in a game that can better be described as a game of missed opportunities by both sides.
Maome will later score a brace in first minute of the referee’s optional time after he buried the ball from a free kick following Gunners goalkeeper’s handling of the ball outside the box.
After the break, Gunners came back more determined to at least save face and managed to score two goals in quick succession. The Peleng giants’ goal were scored by substitutes Ronald Olaki and Thabo Metlhayotlhe who levelled matters to bring hope to the few Gunners supporters who had attended the game.
However, Gunners hopes of at least salvaging a draw or winning the game were dealt a heavy blow after Maome scored his third goal from the penalty spot after Mbise had fouled striker Tumisang Orebonye in the box.
The stocky Maome took the penalty sending the keeper the wrong way. Gunners coach, Itumeleng Duiker bemoaned the chances his charges missed saying that his team’s main problem is converting the numerous chances that they create. He said they will go back to the drawing board with his fairly young squad to address their goal-scoring problem. The Money Machine, as GU are also known, won the game 6-2 on aggregate to move to the semi-finals of the competition. Maome was voted man of the match for his heroic displays which some are of the view that they far much outpace his age.
Teams
Gunners: Katlego Mbise, Desire Bafana, Wazha Seleka, Michael Tinye, Katlego Mothibi, Mmoloki Kebalepile, (Ronald OIaki), Thabiso Mabachi, Mothusi Cooper, Kenanao Kgetholetsile (Thabo Metlhayotlhe), Elvis Mosea, Mandla Mgadla
Gaborone United: Goitseone Phoko, Mothusi Johnson, Goodwin Osei Bonsu, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Alphonse Modisaotsile, Karabo Phiri, Kutlwelo Mpolokang, Thatayaone Mpolokang (Arnold Mampori), Obonwe Maome (Alford Velaphi), Dirang Moloi, Tumisang Orebonye (Boipelo Oaitse)
Gunners (0) 2 (Olaki 51st, Metlhayotlhe 62nd)
GU (2) 3 (Maome 32nd, 45th, 70th)