14 Dec 2015

Ecco City Greens survived a scare by visiting Maun Tigers in their Debswana First Division North league first round last game fixture at the Tagala Primary School grounds on Saturday (December 12) afternoon.

Ecco came from behind to overcome Tigers 2-1 after the Maun side scored in the first minute of the first half.

Ecco goalkeeper, Tumelo Morupisi, had parried a long range tame shot only for the rebound to find Kesaobaka Dikole well positioned to tap in the goal.

The quick goal shook the Texan Phiri coached Ecco, however the experience of long time campaigners, Nicholas ‘Mambush’ Matlhare and Gaboratanelwe ‘Radio’ Kgosietsile soon bore fruit as they managed to stabilise the midfield.

Tigers on one hand kept pushing for another goal through the likes of Jenamiso Tanyala, Tapiwa Seagola and Oosi Tebape, but the resolute Ecco defence denied them breakthrough chances.

Their goalkeeper, Thero Asele was outstanding between the goalposts as he easily tipped pile drivers by Kgosietsile over-bar.

 There was drama after one such pile driver led to a corner kick awarded to Ecco.

Soon after the ball was cleared for another corner, the goalpost fell, with Tigers goalkeeper surviving an injury by a whisker.

The players then had to help raise the goalposts before the game could continue. 

A Good Samaritan rushed home and collect his welding machinery to weld the goalposts during the half time break.

Meanwhile, Ecco kept piling pressure after the goalposts were raised to their normal position and their enterprising winger, Onkemetse ‘Nandos’ Powe managed to dissect the Tigers defence and shot just on the edge of the box.

Tigers’ goalie then parried the ball back into play, only to find Pontsho Sephutho well positioned to level mattersin the 31st minute.

Sephutho could have earned a brace on the 40th minute in the first half as he managed to break through Tigers defence and only shot straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.

In the second half, Ecco dictated terms with Kgosietsile and Matlhare doing most of the damage from the midfield, while Tigers retreated back with the hope of salvaging a draw from the away fixture.

It was Powe again who did the spade work in the 54th minute and put through Sephutho to earn his brace and to earn Ecco the much needed three points to move up the Debswana First Division North log.  Ends