Teboho Molapo
LMPS…..(0) 2
LCS……(1) 2
(LMPS win 6-5 on penalties)
LDF…..(2) 2
Lioli…(0) 1
MASERU — Cup Kings LMPS will play LDF in the Top Four final at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena this afternoon after winning their semi-final ties against LCS and Lioli respectively, yesterday.
The police outfit overcame Masheshena 6-5 on penalties while LDF edged league champions Lioli in a double-header that set Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena alight with some scintillating football.
Having won a Cup competition in each of the last three years — the Buddie Top 4 in 2007, Imperial Top 8 in 2008 and the MGC Supa 8 last year — LMPS went into this year’s Top Four as many onlookers’ favourites and they will have the opportunity to prove them right at 4:15pm today.
LCS had taken the lead midway through the first half through Thabane Rankara, with the match going a gear up after the halftime break as both sides tired and the game began to open up.
Eight minutes into a fast-paced second half Simunye had equalised thanks to a clever finish from winger Mabula Khafa.
But LCS, who in truth were the better side throughout, took a stranglehold on the game afterwards largely due to the touchline wizardry of Tšeliso Khali. The winger gave Simunye’s fullbacks a torrid afternoon and, after 60 minutes, Khali’s pinpoint cross was expertly finished on the turn by Motlatsi Rantja. Three minutes later, it could have been 3-1 to LCS, but Rantja headed over the crossbar after a carbon-copy move.
Masheshena would come to rue their indecisiveness in front of goal when Teboho Sehloho scrambled home in the 82nd minute, to send the match into a penalty shootout where Rantja’s miss allowed Bokang Mohasi to send Simunye into today’s final.
They will play LDF, who won the last edition of the tournament in 2008, after they overcame Lioli 2-1, thanks to goals from Motlatsi Nkhabu and Molefe Lekoekoe in the second semi.
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