Mqondisi Dube
9 November 2009
Mochudi Centre Chiefs avenged last season's Coca-Cola Cup semi-final defeat to Uniao Flamengo Santos with a 3-2 workman like victory in a be MOBILE Premier League match at the University of Botswana (UB) Stadium on Friday night.
Chiefs, who finished with 10 men after the sending off of goalkeeper, Mompoloki 'Wrist' Sephekolo found the target through Lesego Garenamotlhale, Othusitse 'Jabu' Pilane and an own goal by Santos defender, Onkabetse Sefolwe. Santos pulled back two goals via striker, Mogakolodi 'Tsotso' Ngele. The second half was played in driving rain, which affected the tempo of the game. Chiefs started brightly and went ahead in the first minute when Sefolwe turned Elijah Montsho's cross past his own goalkeeper. Santos immediately hit back with a flurry of attacks with Godfrey Ngele engineering most of the moves. In a frenetic opening period, tackles were flying from both sides and the referee seemed overawed by the occasion as he failed to caution players. Pressure from Santos paid-off in the 21st minute when Mogakolodi brought parity from a free kick. The youngster curled a low shot beyond the reach of Sephekolo.
Four minutes later, Dirang Moloi, who was behind most Chiefs' moves, made a powerful run on the right, before eliminating one defender as he arrived in the box. He then laid a pass for Garenamothlale who made no mistake from close range.
Moloi rattled the woodwork from a free kick on the left in the 33rd minute as Chiefs sought an assurance goal.
Sensing danger, Santos coach, Clever Hunda withdrew Gofaone Tiro and sent on Ompolokile Alone but the move did not immediately pay dividends.
Santos stand-in goalkeeper, Kabelo Osupile looked jittery but Chiefs failed to capitalise. The second half started at a quick pace with Chiefs defender, Michael Mogaladi making a vital double intervention in the 49th minute when he blocked Alone efforts. Then Osupile handled out of the box and escaped without a caution from the referee. The heavens opened in the 60th minute and affected the flow of the game. At this stage, Chiefs coach, Wesley Mondo withdrew Zambian striker, Musonda Mweuku and Dirang for Keaketswe Moloi and Sekhana 'Nandos' Koko.
The pace of Koko proved a handful to the Santos' rearguard and it came as no surprise when Chiefs surged ahead in the 69th minute through a Pilane goal.
There was a bit of luck for Magosi as the Santos' goalkeeper went down in slippery conditions and completely missed the ball and Pilane gleefully put it away. With 15 minutes on the clock, Santos reduced the deficit when Sephekolo was red carded for bringing Boitshoko Zikhale down and the referee awarded a penalty. The Chiefs players took a dig at the referee for the decision but Ngele remained calm and slotted the ball home, although Sephekolo's replacement, Gontse Tlhowe, almost saved the kick. Chiefs saw their penalty appeals turned away in the 82nd minute for a suspected handball.
Thapelo Sethebethe escaped only with a yellow card for deliberately handling the ball inside the Chiefs' box as he made a desperate attempt to reach for the ball. With the win, Chiefs took their points tally to 11 from five matches while Santos have eight from seven games.
The victory was a morale booster for Chiefs ahead of a crunch encounter against defending champions, Gaborone United on Wednesday.
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