Lioli………………… 2
Matlama ………….. 0
Mikia Kalati
MASERU — Tšepo Seturumane scored a brace to help Lioli continue their dominance over bitter rivals Matlama in a league match at Setsoto Stadium yesterday.
Seturumane scored a goal in each half to give his team a convincing 2-0 win over struggling premier league giants.
The match between the country’s two biggest clubs started on a slow note as both teams struggled to put the ball on the ground mainly due to the windy weather conditions.
The left-footed striker scored the first of his two goals with just four minutes to the break.
He struck past Tse Putsoa goalkeeper Lerata Tšalong after some sloppy defending.
The striker was at it again in the 65th minute when he cemented Lioli’s grip on the tie.
He once again brilliantly punished the inexperienced Matlama defence that did not have captain and key man Nkau Lerotholi.
Tse Putsoa tried to fight back early in the second half but found the Lioli defence marshalled by Thabo Masualle standing firm.
Matlama’s loss to Lioli was their fourth in seven league matches this season and it also marked one of Tse Putsoa’s worst starts to the league campaign.
Selling key players such as Dlomo Monaphathi, Thapelo Mokhehle and Pali Tšalong in the off-season has proved costly as Matlama continue to concede goals while struggling to score.
The battle in yesterday’s match was won in midfield as former Matlama utility player, Tšoanelo Koetle, once again proved that it was a costly mistake to sell him to Lioli in the off-season.
He combined well with veteran playmakers Bushy Moletsane and Motlalepula Mofolo to win the midfield battle and help Tse Nala register their fourth win of the season.
Lioli coach, Lehlohonolo Thotanyana, told the Sunday Express that they realised that the defence of Matlama was struggling and instructed his strikers to punish them.
“We had to make use of their poor defending to win the match.
“I told the boys to go all out in search of goals as I realised that Matlama were not solid in defence,” Thotanyana said.
He said his team had to come back strongly following last week’s 1-2 defeat to Bantu.
“It was important that we fought back from last weekend’s loss to Bantu by registering a win over Matlama to put things back on track,” he said.
Elsewhere, Linare beat LCS 1-0 as the defending league champions suffered their second loss of the new season.
Inconsistent Likhopo beat Mpharane Celtic 2-1 in the other premier league match played yesterday.
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