Teboho Molapo
Lerotholi…………………(1) 1
Linare…………………… (0) 1
MASERU — Linare moved to the top of the Vodacom Premier League standings for the first time since 2008 after salvaging a one-all draw against Lerotholi at the Central Prison yesterday.
However, bearing in mind Tse Tala were playing a side that had previously collected just seven points from a possible 27, it wasn’t complete bliss for the visitors from Leribe as they dropped two valuable points in their quest to end a painful 30-year championship drought.
“I’m most disappointed,” a frustrated Linare coach Pitso Mosothoane said after the game.
“The team didn’t play well, not to pinpoint anybody (but) we didn’t play well.
“These are two points that we will rue at the end of the season.”
Indeed they might.
Linare, on a high following their undefeated start to the season, were expected to press the advantage early on against a Lihale side that had lost six of their last eight games — especially with Tse Tala’s nearest rivals Bantu and LDF not in action this weekend.
But instead it was underdogs Lerotholi who were the spunkier as they looked to claim another famous scalp to add to champions Matlama and Vodacom Soccer Spectacular winners Likhopo.
Linare were lethargic, almost as if their green kit camouflaged them into the Central Prison’s lush grass.
Passes were not finding their mark and that is how Lerotholi’s opener came about when Linare defender Tatolo Mphuthing’s lazy square pass, intended for left-back Tente Molapo, was intercepted by an alert Janki Tšoeu who punished the visitors with aplomb in the 29th minute.
The goal at least sparked the Hlotse side into some sort of life and a response was soon manufactured.
Linare this season have a galaxy of stars.
Old schemers Moses Ramafole, Molefi Mosebo and Refiloe Potse as well as young guns Napo Sehloho and Mabuti Potloane can all claim to be stars in their own right and when they click they are a joy to watch.
Triangles, squares and circles were all weaved as Tse Tala tried to crack a manfully resolute Lerotholi outfit.
Playing in front of boisterous fans, Linare’s reward finally came in the 52nd minute with an early contender for goal of the season when a slick passing move ended with Potse rasping a shot into the top corner.
Potse, on his old stomping ground with LCS, hit the ball so hard it was beyond the normally gymnastic Tumelo Ntšoane before the keeper could blink.
But most disappointingly for Mosothoane his side did not kick on to force a winner.
Instead the game became stop-start and slightly ill-tempered.
In the 64th minute Lerotholi defender Tšepo Manong was stupidly sent off for talking back to the referee before, in the 87th minute, Potse followed suit for the same childlike offence.
“I’m disappointed with him (Manong) . . . he cost the team,” Lerotholi coach Naleli Tšilo said afterwards.
“We tried. At least we got one point even though we would have liked to win the game.”
Lihale with the point gained go above Matlama into ninth place.
With their share of the spoils Linare go top of the Vodacom Premier League standings, a point ahead of Bantu, the old enemy from Mafeteng.
Asked if Tse Tala could win the championship, and once again rule Lesotho, Mosothoane’s reponse was simple.
“Why not?”