Is it the UB Stadium or Friday night fixtures that do not work for the once all-powerful side. After a 4-1 humiliation by Mochudi Centre Chiefs, it was another bad Friday for Fighters at the UB Stadium last week when they lost to Santos. For the second Friday running, they found themselves dancing to another club's tune under floodlights. The Brazilians fell behind in the 13th minute when former international defender Seabo Gabanakgosi headed home to give Santos a 1-0 lead that lasted till hardworking Botlhe Rankgomo made it 2-0 in the 70th minute. Five minutes after the first goal, Fighters' striker Patrick Mpofu broke through but goalkeeper Raphael Nthwane thwarted him. The striker posed constant danger to the Santos' defence. In the 30th minute, he won a free-kick that Tomas Muketiwa curled cleverly but once again, a hawk-eyed Nthwane came to the rescue. In the second half, Santos found players themselves on the back-foot as Fighters pressed hard for an equaliser. Charles Mositwane should have pulled one back for the Brazilians in the 60th minute after beating the offside trap but he was too casual and the Santos' defence recovered to thwart him.
Rankgomo stirred his team to victory with his good off the ball runs and aggression when he was in possession. His reward came in the 70th minute when he rounded the defence on the left to send in a low curler past Benson Mookodi.
