06 Apr 2014

Orapa United dominance over Selibe Phikwe based FC Satmos came to an abrupt halt on Saturday afternoon (April 5) at Itekeng stadium, as the visitors defeated the home team 1-3 in a be MOBILE league encounter.

Formed three season ago as a first division outfit after merging five teams based in Orapa, the Ostriches as the diamond mining town team is affectionately known has been dominant over FC Satmos, emerging victorious in all their previous encounters.

However, the Saturday encounter proved otherwise as Orapa United fans could not believe it, witnessing their team failing to score while the handful supporters of the visiting team were in a jubilant mood as their team got the much needed three points to move to fifth position on the log and improve their chances of finishing in the top eight.

FC Satmos made their intentions clear early in the first half, as they opened scoring account on the seventh minute through forward Mcgini Sibanda.

However, Orapa United responded well and got an equaliser on the 16th minute through hard working midfielder, Oaitse Leeme.

A free flowing game was dealt a blow on the 55th minute of the second half after the match official awarded FC Satmos a controversial penalty. The decision to award the penalty came after one of the Satmos players lost balance inside the box and ultimately fell to the ground handling the ball.

Instead of blowing for hand ball and award Orapa United a free kick, the referee who was far from the action did the unexpected. It was a referee decision that spoiled a free flowing game, FC Satmos goal poacher, Patrick Kaunda stepped forward and converted the penalty with ease to increase his goal tally to 19 goals. Kaunda is destined to scooping the green boot award at the end of the season.

A few minutes later after the controversial penalty that gave FC Satmos the unexpected lead as the game was balanced, the visitors’ goal keeper, Kagiso Tshelametsi got himself a red card fo unacceptable utterances towards the referee.

He had been booked for handling the ball outside the box. But Tshelametsi, a veteran player, who had even represented the country at national level, did the unexpected as instead of dashing towards the dressing rooms to allow the game to continue, he just a few metres after stepping outside the field of play, took his time taking off his boots and socks before he was forcefully removed by security officers.

Tshelametsi’s behaviour nearly spoiled the mood inside the stadium, as the home team supporters were still angry with the referee decision of awarding a controversial penalty.

The home team failed to take advantage of the fact that FC Satmos were one man down. The delay by Tshelametsi saw the match officials extending the match by extra seven minutes after regulation time. 

The quest for an equaliser by Orapa United, gave the visitors an opportunity to seal victory in referee’s optional time, Katlego Mpoeleng scored a third for FC Satmos .With only three games left before closure of the beMOBILE league season, the win has moved FC Satmos to fifth position on the log with 41 points while Orapa United is still on the edge of being relegated as it is on position 11 with 31 points. ENDS