Moorosi Tsiane
Khabele Mohotle came off the bench at LCS Ground yesterday to help Sundawana beat Likhopo 2-1 for their fifth consecutive premier league win.
Raboate Koloti scored Sundawana’s other goal while Nyeoe Rakhoboso found the net for Likhopo.
Sundawana started the match like a house on fire and the Butha-Buthe outfit duly found the opener in the 15th minute when Koloti chipped the ball over Likhopo goalkeeper Fusi Ranone.
Two minutes later, Likhopo came close to finding an equaliser but striker Lehlomela Ramabele shot over the bar after receiving a sitter from Chaka Maile inside the six-yard box.
Sundawana continued to dominate the match with the midfield combination of Emmanuel, Raboang Koloti and Tau Masiu in fine fettle.
However, five minutes before the half-time break, Sundawana were forced to make a substitution with the injured Masiu making way for Moshoeshoe Majakathata.
After the match went to the break 1-0 in favour of Sundawana, Likhopo came back the better of the two sides and immediately nearly found the equalizer—only for Thabo Mongali’s well-placed header to be cleared for a corner by goalminder Molefe Tjeboko.
In a bid to find the equaliser, Likhopo introduced Sefoli Ntoi for Maipato and the substitution seemed to work as the Red Army started to claw game into the game. The dominance finally paid off in the 75th minute when Rakhoboso scored with a cheeky back-heel. This was after the keeper had parried Bokang Mothoana’s set-piece.
In the 77th minute, Likhopo introduced Majara Masupha for Maile while two minutes later, Sundawana striker Rethabile Rasethuntsa made way for Mohatle.
And just two minutes following his introduction, Mohatle found himself facing an empty net after a defensive mistake between Nyakhane Nyakhane and Ranone.
He made no mistake and drilled the final nail into Likhopo’s coffin to hand the Maseru outfit their second defeat of the season after last Sunday’s 2-1 loss against Matlama.
In a post-match interview, Sundawana manager, Taoana Taoana said: “I think we just stuck to our game-plan because we knew they are ball-players so we made sure they do not get that chance especially in midfield.
“This is our fifth straight win and it means so much to us.”
On his part, Likhopo assistant coach, Tšeliso Mofolo admitted Sundawana were the better side and deserved the maximum points.
“They were more mobile than us from the first whistle, I must admit. We still have to work on our players’ mindset because I think last weekend’s loss against Matlama was still affecting them,” Mofolo said.
In other premier league matches played yesterday, Kick4Life held Lioli to a goalless draw at Setsoto Stadium while LMPS and Mphatlalatsane also failed to produce any goals.