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Botswana: Gunners Fail to Maintain the Tempo
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
21 April 2008
Posted to the web 21 April 2008
Tshepo Molwane
Thousands of Extension Gunners' supporters went home disappointed after watching their side squander numerous scoring opportunities before losing 2-1 to their hoodoo side, Uniao Flamengo Santos in a Mascom Premier League game played at the National Stadium on Friday night.
The defeat left Gunners rooted in the 15th spot in the 16-club Premier League with 27 points from 24 games. After the 6-0 win over TASC the previous weekend, Gunners' diehards flocked to the stadium with high hopes that their side had turned the corner. If Gunners entertain dodging the dreaded axe, they have to win their remaining six games otherwise they will find themselves campaigning in the lower ranks next season.
Mapantsula came into the game without their striker Johannes Motse, who scored a brace against TASC. His place was taken by Zimbabwean Nkosinathi Khumalo who was coming from suspension. Motse is said to have injured himself in training on the eve of the game and had to be excluded from the travelling team. Khumalo failed to stamp his authority though Santos' rearguard looked awful on the night. His combination with Tiroyamodimo 'TRX' Mohambi failed to test the Gabane side. Mapantsula missed the services of hard-running winger Kgololo Leteane who was doing duty for the national Under-20 side against Namibia in the African Youth Championship qualifier. In his place, Gunners' technical team drafted in Othusitse Mahube who failed to impress. Mahube wasted a good opportunity in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, which could have given the Lobatse side a lifeline.
Gunners were the first side to draw blood when midfielder Kemmy Pilato opened the scoring from close range in the 22nd minute after Santos' defence failed to deal with Khumalo's low shot into the area. The goal brought some hope to Gunners' supporters that their side would end the jinx against Santos.
But their celebrations were cut short four minutes later when Gunners' defence went to sleep and young striker Thapelo Sethebethe grabbed the opportunity to level the scores. Goalkeeper Mandivenga Paradzayi deserves the blame as he could have done better to deny the Santos' striker.
The goal did not go down well with Gunners' supporters as they threw missiles at the jubilant Santos' fans sitting with them on Pandamatenga stand.
After the break, both sides kept attacking and Gunners' skipper Ofentse Mmipi shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Raphael Nthwane. Santos scored the winner in the 66th minute when Boitshoko Zikhale was left unchecked on the blind spot.
The nippy striker easily beat the goalkeeper. Ten minutes later, Sethebethe wasted a good opportunity after rounding off the defence, only to be denied by Mandivenga.
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After the match, Santos' assistant coach George Mogopodi said they needed to win the game after going through a rough patch. It was Gunners' first victory in seven games. "We were not at our best because we gave away possession easily. Pele (Jackie Mothathego) won the game for us," he said.
Gunners' coach Daniel 'Chicco' Nare was fuming at the end of the game. "We gave away two stupid goals. We created too many chances especially in the first half," he thundered.
Nare said that they were not outclassed and the problem was that they were tense after their win over TASC. "We have to go back to the drawing board and we have to plan for the next game," he asserted.
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| Copyright © 2008 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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