10 Feb 2019

Matebajana lost by a solitary goal to Black Rangers, despite having an upper hand in a Debswana First Division South game played in Mogoditshane on February 9.

The game failed to live up to expectation, as the teams mostly played long balls with few passes.

Matebajana made their intentions known in the first half, exchanging some passes that tormented the visitors’ defence, but they were let down by poor finishing.

In one instance, Pako Moleti rose well to connect a cross but unfortunately his header went straight into Black Ranger’s keeper’s hands.

Before the game, the two teams were perched at the opposite ends of the table, with Matebajana in position four while Black Rangers from Tsabong were in number 10 out of 12 teams.

Looking at the first half, one did not see a hunger for survival from the visitors, as it was business as usual, casual especially upfront, resulting with the first half ending without them taking any shot at goal.

In the second half, they emerged rejuvenated although Matebajana looked more dangerous as they continued pushing forward.

While they flogged upfront looking for the elusive goal, a defensive blunder found an unmarked Godwin Rietz who beat the advancing goalkeeper, and scored what proved to be a vital goal.

This was the team’s first shot on goal and it energised Black Rangers as they looked dangerous upfront and took more shots at goal, taking advantage of Matebajana’s push for an equaliser.

Looking for a goal, Matebejana’s Bopelo Palalani could not believe it when his shot from close range went wide much to the disappointment of the supporters who had expected a goal.

A few seconds later, Moleti also ran out of luck as his shot ballooned over the bar.

At the other end, Rietz, Tshepang Ntau and Metlha Buru found their rhythm as they continued to cause problems for Matebajana.

Ntau took a long range shot but it landed comfortably in the keeper’s hands.

Black Rangers introduced Johanes Kureng for Matlhogonolo Kgaodi, as the team pushed forward looking to extend the lead.

Kureng could have been a super sub but he wasted a golden opportunity as he only needed to tap the ball into the net, but his idea of taking a powerful shot resulted with a miskick hence the ball went wide.

This was after Ntau had challenged the keeper with a powerful shot but Kureng wasted the rebound.

Matebejana felt robbed after Palalani was fouled inside the box but the referee ignored their pleas, and further, did not give the player a caution for simulation.

At the end, Black Rangers returned to Tsabong with three points in the bag, and their stay in the log remains safe for now. ENDS