However coach Edward Leposo refused to be carried away. "We still have to fight because our opponents can still score three goals in Francistown. They could come back a lot dangerous in the second leg". Teko Molapisi struck in the 40th minute to open the score. Although both sides seemed to approach the game with too much caution it was the Francistown side which showed better form with striker Molapisi, and Letsogile Mothowaeng pushing Don Ramphaleng and George Mponiki hard in the opening minutes but poor coordination in front of goals let them down. Former ECCO City Greens man Gaboratanelwe 'Radio' Kgosietsile kept the Buffaloes bench on their toes as early as the 18th minute firing a curling free kick which Buffaloes keeper Ola Tsae struggled to deal with, spilling away before catching the ball on second attempt. With Buffaloes strikers Puso Mangadi and Gopolang Matlou lacking the aggression in front of goals GNT defence had little to do but Matlou nearly punished them in the 36th minute, only for his header to miss narrowly. Kgosietsile forced another save from Tsae in the 38th minute but four minutes later the veteran midfielder orchestrated GNT's first goal when he supplied Molapisi who made no mistake from close range. GNT having gone for break leading 1-0 found things different in the second half with Buffaloes firing from all cylinders. Once again, however lack of purpose in the last third cost the Buffaloes dearly.
Buffaloes sensed danger as the clock ticked and were desperately looking for the equaliser when their rivals caught them on the break. Buffaloes conceded another free kick in the closing minutes, from which Kgosietsile stepped up to the challenge. Goal keeper Tsae had parried away the effort but Otlaadisa Manyeka was on hand to pounce from close range to make it 2-0.
