Kick4Life…0
Lioli…(1) 2
Moorosi Tsiane
A goal apiece from Tšepo Lekhooana and Basia Makepe saw Lioli beat Kick4Life 2-0 in a Vodacom Premier League match played at Old Europa yesterday.
The win cemented the Teyateyaneng outfit’s place at the summit of the 14-team Premier League table with 28 points from 11 matches, while their victims remained in seventh spot on 15 points after 13 matches.
Yesterday’s match started at a frantic pace with both teams searching for an early goal but Lioli came closest to finding the opener in the 16th minute, only for striker Masoabi Nkoto’s free header a Tšoanelo Koetle free-kick to sail over the bar.
Kick4life midfielders, Tšeliso Ramafikeng and Robert Mekomba, had the upper hand in the middle of the park, but it was Lioli who nearly broke the deadlock in the 36th minute but Tšepo Seturumane’s long-range strike rebounded off the goal post.
However, Lekhooana’s strike in the 45th minute saw Lioli go to the half-time break leading 1-0.
Lioli came into the second half the stronger side, and Lekhooana could have scored another goal but his free header from Koetle’s set-piece in the 52nd minute narrowly missed the target.
Thereafter, it was one-way traffic as Lioli kept piling up the pressure on Kick4Life, with their efforts paying off in the 68th minute through defender Makepe.
Kick4life introduced Morapeli Lesoetsa and Tokelo Majoro for Mekomba and Ramafikeng against the run of play, while Lioli pulled out Sonopo for Bafokeng Mosala.
Lioli kept on attacking the league rookies, but poor finishing ensured the scoreline remained respectable for Kik4Life.
However, the homeside nearly found a consolation goal two minutes before the final whistle but Thabiso Brown’s strike narrowly missed the target.
After the match, Lioli coach Mosholu Mokhothu heaped praise on his charges for sticking to his game-plan.
“We played very well today and the fact the players managed to adjust to the game when we changed the formation, shows a lot of maturity,” Mokhothu said.
“Our aim is to win the league title and if we collect maximum points in all our remaining two fixtures of the first round, we will start the second round in the right place.”
On his part, Kick4Life Director of Football, Chris Bullock said his team struggled especially in the second stanza.
“We struggled a bit in the second half but I think we are getting there. We gave away a soft goal in the dying minutes of the first half and that changed everything,” Bullock said.
Meanwhile, in other Premier League matches played yesterday, LMPS beat Sundawana 2-1 at PTC Ground to register their second win of the season, while Matlama walked easily past Nyenye Rovers with a 3-0 at St Monica’s. Qoaling Highlanders held LDF to a one-all stalemate at home in Qoaling.
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