28 Jan 2019

Goals from Maano Ditshupo and Mosha Gaolaolwe in either half of the Mascom Top 8 semi-final first leg gave Township Rollers a 2-0 victory over Gaborone United (GU) in a rather lackluster Gaborone derby played at the National Stadium on January 27.

The Blues will be content to take the two goal cushion into the second leg of the tie, but neither side really impressed in a match that failed to live up to the hype.  

It took just 10 minutes for Rollers to open their account through captain Ditshupo after Tumisang Orebonye made a run down the right flank and delivered a cross into the box where Ditshupo hit a well-executed volley past GU goal minder Goitseone Phoko to give Rollers the 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later, GU had the chance to make amends when they won a set piece on the outside edge of the Rollers 18-yard box after Mothusi Cooper had been adjudged to have fouled the Reds’ playmaker Thatayaone ‘Messi’ Kgamanyane.

Having picked himself up, Kgamanyane hit the freekick over Keeagile Kgosipula’s goal.

Most of the first half was a cagey affair played in the middle of the park with little goalmouth action.  

Lemponye Tshireletso tested Phoko from just outside the GU penalty area, but the Reds’ goal minder was well positioned.

Popa led by the single goal at the half time recess.  

Early in the second stanza, GU kept pumping balls into the Rollers 18-yard box, clearly instructed to go for an equaliser.  

But it would be Rollers extending their lead just after the hour mark, with Orebonye once more providing the assist as his cross was met by Gaolaolwe who connected well with a towering header to make it 2-0 to Rollers in the 61st minute.

It was the perfect sendoff for Gaolaolwe, who was playing his last match for Rollers before joining South African National First Division (NFD) side TS Galaxy, along with fellow Zebras internationals, Rollers’ Gape Mohutsiwa and Jwaneng Galaxy’s Thero Setsile.

Substitutions by both coaches, Rollers’ Rodolfo Zapata, who was facing his former side GU for the first time, and the Reds’ Philemon Makhwengwe, did not bring the desired spark to the match as the dour derby failed to live up to the billing.

Meanwhile, Jwaneng Galaxy had defeated BDF XI 1-0 through Setsile, who also bid his side farewell with a goal on Saturday.

BDF and GU, who were both the away sides in the first leg, will now look to use home ground advantage to overturn those results and reach the final of the lucrative tournament. ENDS