19 Mar 2018

Gaborone United (GU) put up one of their best performances of the season at the Molepolole Sports Complex on Sunday, beating army side, BDF XI 3-1 in a convincing display throughout the game.

The cherry on top was when Thatayaone Kgamanyane topped the goal scoring charts after hitting a brace past Matebele goalkeeper, Tumiso Mashakola.

Moya Golele performance was witnessed by a small crowd of their loyal fans, with the majority perhaps put off by the past poor performance and off the field challenges.

GU started the game by launching an early ambush on their opponent as early as the 7th minute when Kgamanyane forced Mashakola into an excellent save when he nodded from close range from a Kabelo Seakanyeng cross on the right.

Four minutes later however, Mashakola could not repeat the heroics when Kgamanyane beat him with a header from a Dirang Moloi corner.

GU increased their tally on the 27th minute when defender, Kutlwelo Mpolokang launched a long shot up field that found Kgamanyane on the far left.

Kgamanyane then crossed into the box to find an unmarked Seakanyeng who slotted home from close range.

The goal spurred the small crowd of GU faithfuls into song, and with BDF XI finding it hard to crack open the GU defence, they resorted to launching long shots from outside the box, but the strategy posed little threat to Goitseone Phoko in GU goals.

After the break, GU put the game beyond BDF XI when they were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute after Emmanuel Nlu brought down Kgamanyane down when he was clear on goal.

The on form striker dusted himself up to slot home his second of the game and 15th of the season.

The penalty came after an exchange of good passes by GU just outside the BDF XI’s box.

After stretching the game further than Matebele’s reach, GU then resorted to moving the ball around the field to the pleasure of their fans, and the move worked for them as BDF XI were virtually absent in the midfield.

However, Nelson Setshwane’s men managed to take a small advantage from the ‘off the accelerator’ move by GU to get a consolation goal in the 73rd minute through Rashid Mandawa who got at the end of a long cross into the box by Kelepile Terata.

Many thought the goal would instill some aggression into BDF XI, but the army side continued their lukewarm play until the final whistle.

The win still left GU rooted at position six on the log just behind their opponent, but manage to close the gap to just a point. Ends