Moorosi Tsiane
MASERU — Premier league giants, Matlama, bounced back from a string of poor results beating Qoaling Highlanders 1-0 in a premier league match played at LCS Ground yesterday.
Tse Putsoa, as Matlama are affectionately known, had gone for three weeks without a win.
A Phafa Tšosane goal late in the first half helped Tse Putsoa to bounce back after a string of two losses and a draw.
Matlama headed to the match in desperate need of a win to overcome their disastrous sequence of poor results.
Highlanders were also in search of a win after a dry spell of two draws and a loss.
Tšosane, returning from injury put his team ahead in the 43rd minute beating Highlanders goalkeeper, Benedict Kobeli.
Highlanders looked to be the better side in the first half of the match.
However, both teams failed to create meaningful goal scoring chances in the first half.
Towering Highlanders striker, Makhetha Thakeli, was the danger man in attack, but his team failed to get it right in the last third of the pitch.
He was let down by poor finishing and failed to get his team back on level terms.
Highlanders technical team, made three immediate changes in the second half in search of the equaliser.
They introduced veteran striker, Paballo Mpakanyane, but it was too late for him to trouble the Matlama defence marshalled by captain, Nkau Lerotholi.
Mpakanyane could have equalised in the 60th minute, but he failed to utilise a golden opportunity gifted to him by skipper Tšeliso Ramathe.
Matlama coach, Lehlohonolo Mokhele, told the Sunday Express during the post-match interviews that he is happy with the three points though it was not their best performance.
“I will take the three points, but it was not the best performance from the team.
“There is a lot of work lying ahead going forward,” Mokhele said.
He said the team seems to have lost confidence during a dry spell that has seen them suffer defeats to rivals Bantu and Lioli as well as a draw to struggling Mpharane Celtic.
“We created lot of chances, but failed to punish our opponents.”
He said his team must work on scoring as it has become a problem in recent weeks.
“We have to work on our finishing and that can only happen in training,” said Mokhele.
Highlanders coach, Wright Mofoka said his side put up a brave fight despite losing the match.
“We played well and created scoring chances, but luck was not on our side,” Mofoka said.
He said they are also experiencing problems when it comes to getting the goals.
Elsewhere, Likhopo continued with their good vein of form beating Mille 3-0 in Qacha’s Nek.
LMPS, who had gone for over five matches without a win, turned their fortunes around to beat struggling Mpharane Celtic.
Comments are closed.