Pascalinah Kabi
LDF…………. (1) 2
Bantu……….. (0) 2
MASERU — Pacesetters Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) were yesterday held to a 2-2 draw by Bantu to put a big dent on their ambitions to win this year’s Vodacom Premier League title.
The eight-time league winners were certainly below par yesterday as they struggled to hold the Mafeteng side at Ratjomose.
LDF are however still on top of the league with 29 points after 16 matches.
The soldiers have found the going tough since the beginning of the second round last month.
The army side took the lead after 20 minutes through a Kotelo Tefo goal from the corner kick.
Four minutes later Bantu were reduced to 10-men after Lekhanya Lekhanya was given his marching orders by referee Osias Koto for a foul on Mokone Mohloa.
Although their fans expected them to turn on the screws on Bantu, LDF struggled to impose their authority.
Instead it was Bantu who gave a polished performance away from home.
Things were much different just after half-time as the Mafeteng youngsters were more dominant and dangerous.
Mpho Matsinyane’s brilliant pass from the left side saw Mosioua Boseka level the scoring after 58 minutes.
Both LDF defenders and goalkeeper Qejoa Relebohile did not see this coming.
The goal unsettled LDF who were forced to commit a number of errors.
Sohle-Sohle however came back into the game and surged forward again after Tsepo Keketsi’s header in the 74th minute.
Bantu however again equalised two minutes later when captain Likano Tele scored from a Boseka corner kick.
LDF caretaker coach Seth Lephoto was disappointed with the result and admitted in an interview with the Sunday Express that his charges were not playing well.
“I am not happy with the draw because other teams are winning and closing the gap between us and other three teams in the top four,” Lephoto said.
He said LDF were failing to take clear-cut scoring chances thereby allowing their opponents to equalise or even win.
“We are not playing well at all and in the process we are allowing our opponents to use very few opportunities they get to punish us.”
Bantu coach Mosito Matela was a happy man despite referee Koto expelling him from the bench about 10 minutes before the final whistle.
“This is a fair result, it is good for us that we have played to an away draw,” Matela said.
“Our boys managed to absorb the pressure and punished LDF despite collecting a red card just 15 minutes into the game,” he said.
Matela said he apologised to the referee after the game for the insult.
“Tempers are lost in football and it happens all the time. But I’ve already apologised to him,” he said.
Results: Matlama 3-2 Maduma, LDF 2- 2 Bantu and Joy 0-0 Majantja.
Today’s fixture: LCS vs Linare (Central Prisons), LMPS vs Lioli (PTC) and FC Likhopo vs Mpharane Celtics (Ratjomose).
Comments are closed.