Moorosi Tsiane
MASERU — Three first half goals by Basia Makepe, Thato Skaut and Tšepo Lekhooana helped Lioli thrash Linare by 3-0 to advance to the semi-finals of the Prime Minister’s cup to be staged today.
Lioli will face fierce competition against Bantu in the second semi-finals encounter of the charity tournament later today.
The Berea-based side came into the match with high confidence following a win by the same margin over Linare in the Sandawana Herbal Tournament last month.
Linare started the game as the better side of the two, piling lots of pressure against their opponents with the midfield maestro Mabhuti Potloane dictating play in the middle of the park, thereby earning them the upper hand on possession although they failed to penetrate the well-marshaled Lioli defense.
Makepe found the opener for the Berea side when he headed home a well-taken corner by Tšoanelo Koetle in 13th minute, sending the crowds into raptures.
Lioli were at it again three minutes later when Skaut extended their lead through a tap-in from Linare goalkeeper’s parry.
The final nail onto the Linare coffin was almost hammered in by skipper, Sheetsane Ramoseeka whose 19th minute header from a Koetle cross hit the crossbar.
Linare could have narrowed the lead when winger Napo Sehloho was fouled in the penalty arc in the 21st minute, but Potloane’s poorly taken set-piece went over the bar.
As if the goals were not enough, Lioli caught Linare on counter attack in the 23rd minute when Kuenane passed over the ball to Lekhooana who romped to victory with a well placed shot at the far post.
Poor finishing cost the Leribe side the game as they once again dominated the second half, creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities which were never converted.
In search for goal Linare introduced Moorosi Tšiu who came in for Letsoko Leboela in the 53rd minute as a substitute although his introduction bore the Leribe side no fruits.
In post-match interviews Lioli coach, Mosholu Mokhothu, said he was happy with how his charges played.
He said for the first time they had managed to play under the coach’s instructions.
Mokhothu said this tournament is very vital to his team as they are preparing to play in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) preliminary rounds which kick starts in the first week of next month where Lioli will face Premeiro de Agosto of Angola.
He said coming into their today’s opponents they will take Bantu just like any other team but he admitted it is not going to be a walk in a park.
“Our tomorrow’s (today) opponents are very strong and just like Linare, they have a huge support base and they will be under pressure to perform well but we will just approach them just like any other team,” said Mokhothu.
Linare assistant coach, Sejoale-Joale Molefe, said he was disappointed with how his team played in the first half of the match especially their defense department.
“I am disappointed with how we played our defense department was very poor and we conceded easy goals,” Molefe said.
In other matches Likhopo came out 3-2 victorious over Matlama in the first match while Bantu had to decide their win on penalty shoots-outs over stubborn lower division side, Liphakoe following the 90 minutes of one goal all and won 5-4. Free State Stars whipped Majantja by 3-0 also to advance into the semis.
Meanwhile, the other semi-final encounter will ensure that either of the hosting teams of the tournament Free State Stars and Likhopo proceeds to the next stage as they lock horns in first semi final today.