The duo showed no respect for their more experienced opponents and won the hearts of a section of supporters. But the Kumakwane lads will rue the chances they missed on the day and with better finishing, they could have easily won the game.
Checkers could have opened the scoring in the 20th minute but Oreeditse Hendrick fluffed the chance. Hendrick had a number of opportunities, but lack of experience cost him. At times he had the better of Killer Giants' left-back defender Dikabelo Moube but ran out of ideas. Terrence Maoto saw his effort flying over the bar for Checkers but the hosts cheered by their vociferous supporters, stepped up the gear and created opportunities, which all went to waste.
Killer Giants' dangerman Trevor Moiseraele wasted an opportunity in the 28th minute after Checkers' goalkeeper Thomas Ramathudi failed to cut a cross from the left. The visitors suffered a scare in the 38th minute when Killer Giants' midfielder Thatayaone Bagoleng's cracker came off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
After the break, Checkers created three chances in the opening 10 minutes but Phuthego Phuthego was let down by his execution. The striker had his opponents in sixes and sevens whenever he was in possession but surprisingly, he was substituted midway through the second half. This relieved pressure from Killer Giants as they started pushing forward in numbers.
But they found Checkers' centre-back Tshepo Serame in an uncompromising mood. The skinny defender made all the difference with his important interventions.
In the 67th minute, Checkers' calls for a penalty for a handball were ignored by referee Jonathan Male. Four minutes later, disaster struck when Moube controlled the ball on the edge of the box and beat the Checkers' goalkeeper hands down. He could have completed his brace in the 84th minute when he headed straight into the waiting hands of the goalkeeper.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport after the game, Checkers' co-coach Tsaone Mocuminyane said that they tried their best but luck was not on their side. He admitted that they made a blunder by substituting Phuthego, who was without doubt a threat to the opposition. "The substitution of Pio (Phuthego) eased pressure on Killer Giants' defence and they started pushing forward. Somehow, I feel we could have been awarded a penalty but I am not complaining," said Mocuminyane.
Killer Giants' captain Donald 'Coach' Mopako told Mmegi Sport that they struggled throughout the game but luck smiled on them and they got a goal. "At some stage, I thought we would go for penalties. I think we struggled because we went into the game as favourites," said Mopako. He added that they could do better in the next round against bigger sides, as they will be under no pressure to perform.
In earlier games, Security Systems sailed through to the next round when they beat Kgabosetso FC 1-0 through Gomolemo Ramaabya's goal. Mochudi Buffaloes sailed through after goals from King Karvezeni and Aron Ogopoleng gave them a 2-0 win over Home Defenders 2-0.
