Notwane Held As Matebejana Rue Disallowed Goal
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday October 16, 2017 15:19
Both teams went into the match looking to protect their unbeaten streaks and it was evident in the first minutes, as neither side created a chance at goal, instead, resorting to cautious approaches.
But it changed in the 13th minute when Notwane striker, Ishmael Amponsa rose high to meet Tsogang Israel’s cross but the effort went straight into the keeper’s hands. Both sides failed to get grip of the game as the half was marked by self-inflicted mistakes. However, the much awaited goal came with only five minutes to the break. Cosmos Folai beat the offside trap and beat Michael Pepukani to the far post to give his side the lead, sending the handful Matebejana supporters into wild celebrations. ‘Tigerkloof’ took a one goal lead to the break.
At the start of the second half, Matebejana looked the better side as they sought a two-goal cushion. Seven minutes into the half, Folai freed himself with skill from his marker but was superbly denied by Pepukani in a one-on-one. Notwane piled pressure but their efforts were to no avail as Matebejana kept it tight. On the hour mark, Falkirk Shabane tried miles out and the shot nearly tricked the keeper as it took a bounce but he collected well. Ten minutes later, substitute Mpoeleng Mpoeleng missed the goal by a whisker from a header before Sthembile Mquoe ballooned the rebound over the bar. Mpoeleng thought he had given his side the equaliser in the 73rd minute as his shot hit the crossbar and the ball appeared to have crossed the goal line but the referee did not give the goal. At the other end, Folai managed to overpower Brian Botsang, got the ball to beat Pepukani but was punished for a foul in the 78th minute. Sechaba levelled matters two minutes later. Thabiso Boti turned inside the box and poked to the bottom corner to level the matters. With a minute to full time, Notwane survived a scare after Opelo Kgotso, receiving a Folai through ball, saw his shot saved by Pepukani in the last action of the match.
“We played as a team. We came from a goal down and we showed the fighting spirit. Every team we face want to break our record (unbeaten run) hence we treat every game as a cup final,” Notwane stand in coach, Kakale Mabechu said after the game. Matebejana assistant coach, Derrick Malunga was not impressed with the officiating as he decried the disallowed goal. “We had scored but the linesman did not give our goal. Our game plan worked perfectly just that we scored two goals, but the linesman did not give the second goal. We could have bagged a win,” he said.
The teams:
Notwane: Michael Pepukani, Kereng Mpetang, Maatla Segokgo, Brian Botsang, Gobonyeone Selefa (Mpoeleng Mpoeleng), Falkrik Shabane, Thabiso Boti, Thato Mogorosi, Kakanyo Kethubile (Tlhalefo Molebatsi), Tsogang Israel, Ishmael Amponsa (Sthembile Mquoe)
Matebejana: Mpho Montsho, Khaulani Mbuya, Obakeng Mabechwana, Kago Molebatsi, Obed Letsweletse, Patrick Bonang, Tshepo Tabona, Oteng Mothibi, Obonye Marope, Cosmos Folai, Wandani Aaron (Opaletse Kgotso) Caution: Mbuya
Notwane (0) 1 (Boti 80th)
Matebejana (1) 1 (Folai 40th)