Teboho Molapo
Likhopo……….(1) 1
Bantu………….(0) 1
MASERU — Likhopo were left fuming at the final whistle after their last gasp 1-1 draw with Bantu yesterday, but in truth they only had themselves to blame.
For 80 minutes Likhopo had a goal and man advantage but a late lapse in concentration allowed the visitors to claim an equaliser and something to carry in the bag back to Mafeteng.
Likhopo, fresh off a 3-0 win over Majantja last week, were faster out of the blocks in the Ratjomose heat.
After just three minutes defender Lereko Matsipa had them in front when he found the net from close range.
It was the perfect start for Bishop Molatoli’s exciting young team and minutes later it got worse for Bantu.
Their right winger, Sobi Mabeta was adjudged to have committed serious foul play in a 50-50 challenge and was given his marching orders.
So after just seven minutes A Matšo Matebele were down to 10 men, trailing by a goal.
In terms of tactics, Bantu coach Ntebele Taole didn’t change much, only instructing his always attacking right back Mohapi Ntobo to bomb down the flank to compensate for the loss of Mabeta.
It worked to nullify the man difference as Bantu gained the upper hand in the middle stages of the first half.
Bantu who were missing their two most creative players, Mosiuoa Boseka and Tefo ‘Chico’ Maipato, looked off the ball in the final third and their best attacking threat came from right back Ntobo.
Bantu began to lay siege on the Likhopo goal. Thabiso Molotsi had a great chance that he fluffed.
Two minutes later he hesitated in front of goal and squandered another glorious chance.
Likhopo also had a chance to double their tally midway through the second half but Makara Ntaitsane blasted the ball off target.
Likhopo were left to rue that when referee correctly awarded Bantu a penalty after Matsipa mistimed a tackle on Molotsi.
Up stepped Bantu captain Thabiso Maile, who never seem to miss a penalty, to even the scoreline.
Phokoane Rantontsi was sent off for Likhopo in the protestations but there wasn’t enough time to get the winner.
“I’m satisfied, but the standard of our refereeing is bad. All the time Ntate Mokhemisa is bad for Likhopo. We are not saying that he should favour us but he should do the right thing,” Molatoli said.
“Likhopo have been good like this since the beginning of the season.
“I’m not happy with the way we played and I’m not going to talk about the red card because we still created chances but we didn’t do enough to convert them” Taole said.
“We took Likhopo lightly because it full of young players but once they are on the field they are your equals and they will hurt you.”
Likhopo are without a coach after Motlatsi Shale jumped ship to join Liphakoe.
Molatoli put the missed chances down to players not taking responsibility in front of goals.
Likhopo showed signs they are finding top form after they were written off by some as relegation certainties.
“We will never go down. If we go down we will go down fighting,” Molatoli said.
“We are the best team in Lesotho at the moment, and even though we lost games no team was better than us,” he said.
In the second of an entertaining double header LDF extended their lead at the top of the Vodacom premier League thanks to 1-0 win over Maduma given to them by Molefe Lekoekoe’s first half penalty.
Results:
Lioli 0-0 Bantu
Linare 2-3 Mpharane Celtics
LDF 1-0 Maduna