Last Minute Equaliser Saves Rollers

The defender towered above his markers to head home the equaliser in the sixth of the referee’s seven additional minutes. Popa rattled the post twice and had a goal disallowed while Gunners felt robbed due to the late equaliser. Following the resignation of Daniel Nare, club legend Itumeleng Duicker led Mapantsola on the day. Neither side took immediate control of the game. However, Ofentse Mmipi came close in the 10th minute as he tested Kabelo Dambe from outside the box but the keeper collected well. Rollers missed two consecutive chances in the 21st and 30th minutes, with Segolame Boy failing to control Ntesang Simanyana’s pass inside the box and Lemponye Tshireletso hit the side netting from a long range effort. In the 35th minute, Moatlhodi Ralesotla failed to control his header from Oabile Makopo’s cross while Edwin Moalosi’s thunderbolt hit the cross and the follow up effort from Tshireletso was saved by Katlego Mbise with a minute to the break.

The teams went into recess level. Following a rather dull start to the second half, Gunners’ prodigal son Mmipi broke the deadlock two minutes past the hour mark.