17 Jan 2018

Gaborone United twice let slip of their lead against BDF XI to play to a 2-all draw at the Molepolole Sports Complex on January 16.

In a game that was devoid of any attacks in the first half, the two teams went into recess without either having found the back of the net, but soon after the break, Moyagoleele were the first to draw the lots when a long cross from the right wing by Tshepo Maikano found Tumisang Orebonye lurking unchecked behind the BDF XI defence.

The United top marksman slotted a goal home, but even before the celebrations could sink, Matebele were back level when Richard Legwaila benefitted on a lapse from the GU back line.

GU goalkeeper, Goitseone Phoko opted to pass the ball to Alphonse Modisaotsile on the edge of the box instead of making a long clearance up-field, and Legwaila was alert enough to pounce and dispossess Modisaotsile before slotting from an acute angle into an empty net.

GU got their lead back about nine minutes before time after a good workout from the midfield, with Thatayaone Kgamanyane slotting home his fifth goal in the last three games. Just when everybody thought Moya Goleele would wrap the game, BDF XI got back, again in a space of two minutes through substitute, Oratile Taunyane who got at the end of a long haul free kick by Pelontle Lerole.

Taunyane, who came in for Botsalo Oatlhotse despite murmurs from the BDF XI supporters had quickly injected life and pace into the BDF XI frontline, but GU managed to hold on for a share of the spoils.

In a post-match interview, GU coach Rodolfo Zapata could not hide his disappointment at letting their opponent come back twice in a similar fashion.

“This was a very tactical and exciting game and we knew BDF XI were good runners but this was a game that we could have killed off as we had many chances to do that.

The festive break killed us but we are slowly coming back and we only have to correct a few mistakes,” he said.

Zapata however, indicated that he was proud of the effort by his players. Concerning the currently open transfer window, Zapata indicated that they were not planning to buy any players as their current financial status would not allow.

He said instead they would try and promote players from their junior teams.

BDF XI gaffer, Letang “Rasta” Kgengwenyane on the other hand indicated that their performance was not that bad, only that they allowed their opponent to pick pace.

“Normally, we play a pressure game and are the ones that make the opponent run, but fatigue set in quickly and we could not run anymore, especially that this was our second game in three days. However, its work in progress and the combinations are coming up well,” he said.

He said after that their plan was to then prevent GU from getting into their box as they had deadly finishers like Orebonye.

Kgengwenyane said that their aim was to start winning immediately after the festive break, which he said would give them a respectable position in the log, especially that they had already been knocked off the Mascom Top 8 cup.

The result leaves the two teams positions on the log unchanged, with GU still on position five while BDF XI are on position six. ENDS