Masitaoka FC fought back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory over Nico United at Molepolole Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon, thanks to goals from substitutes Itumeleng Salani and Lethabo Ogotseng.
Majatlhaga bossed the early stages of the game but were not clinical in front of goals. Majombolo responded by applying pressure on Majatlhaga defence as they saw what could have been the first goal of the match being ruled out by the referee after the goal scorer handled the ball before it went in. They kept on pushing and six minutes before the half time break they got the lead through an own goal from Masitaoka skipper Ivan Kamberipa. Nico went into the tunnel leading 1-nil.
Head Coach Mandla Mpofu made changes before the second half started replacing Moloi Thuto and Gorata Bogale with Tapiwa Sepatela and Itumeleng Salani. The adjustments didn’t take long to work as Majatlhaga got the equalizer on the 48th minute when Salani headed home Olebogeng Ramotse’s cross from the corner kick.
The Blues of Kweneng continued to keep Nico United goalkeeper Gaolatlhe Tshupegetso busy with numerous attempts on targets, and could have taken the lead when Christopher Lemme was left with the keeper to beat inside the 18 yard area but Tshupegetso made a crucial save to keep out the striker’s effort. The technical team then made changes in a bid to improve the attacking intensity going forward with the introduction of Simbarashe Manyoni, Lethabo Ogotseng and Losika Ratshukudu.
Majatlhaga sealed the victory late in referee’s additional time when Ogotseng showed an incredible leap as he jumped over the goalkeeper and headed into the net after Kamberipa floated a lovely cross in the box.
Speaking after the match coach Mpofu his post-match thoughts;
“At times you need luck in football and we were lucky to get the winner today. I feel our opponents played much better than us but we showed a lot of big character to turn things around in the second especially after the introduction of Salani and Sepatela. Overall I’m happy with the 3 points but not the way we played”.
Masitaoka’s next assignment is against second placed Jwaneng Galaxy in Molepolole on Sunday, 22 January 2023 kicking off at 1530HRS.
Line-Up: James (16), Thuto (28) (Sepatela 7’), Gabadise (5), Kamberipa © (15), Khuduga (17), Kotze (8), Ramotse (18), Bogale (2) (Salani 11’), Tsholang (19) (Ratshukudu_L 29’), Mankanku (21) (Manyoni 33’), Lemme (9) (Ogotseng 14’)
Subs Not Used: Motswagole (32), Tjizake (4), Gagoitseope (20), Ramotlhwa (23)
Head Coach: Mandla Mpofu