18 Feb 2019

In what was a hard fought revenge, Francistown City Greens hosted Eleven Angels and defeated the cross-town rivals 2-0 in a Debswana First Division North game played at the old Francistown Stadium on February 16.

In their first leg encounter against City Greens last year, Eleven Angels won 3-2.

However, over the weekend, Lekgamu la bananyana, as Angels is known in soccer circles, were a shadow of themselves as the hosts came out in full force to claim victory.

Angels were coming into the game confident from their 1-0 away victory last weekend to Motlakase in Palapye and were comfortably sitting on position four in the log standings with 23 points.

On the other side, the hosts were motivated to win. Their impressive 3-2 comeback in their last game against Palapye All Stars to secure a hard-fought victory was enough motivation.

They were seventh on the log with 14 points.

The weekend game started with an impressive display of attack by the hosts when Same Olatotse’s header in the 2^nd minute was a near miss.

City Greens’ Bakang Malabola, who scored a brace in their last game, was the star, playing a free role that helped his side to attack when opportunities arose and defend collectively when counter-attacked by Angels.

With a solid defence comprising of Tshephang Kamakama, Unami Senzeni and Relebanye Selogelo, the Seemo Mpatane led charges were finding it hard to break through such a fortress.

Malabola kept causing trouble for the opponents, as his left footed shot in the 33^rd minute nearly rattled the back of the net, but was saved by Angels’ goalkeeper, Tambani Bachopi.

The first half ended 0-0 and the second half began at a slow pace, but picked in the 50^th minute after Montsi Dichaba’s well positioned volley nearly put the visitors on the lead.

Malabola continued his good runs for City Greens, but many of his goal attempts were thwarted due to lack of proper coordination with his strikers.

The hosts beefed their squad in the 60^th minute by bringing in Keiketlile Setlhare for Monkgosi Moilwa. 

Angels substituted the enterprising Mompati Mbidzo who had a quiet game for Desmond Mtokufa.

Coach, Johnson Moisakwena’s change paid dividends as the hosts secured a goal in the 65^th minute through Kenny Tarea after capitalising on a error by defenders to put Francistown City Greens on a 1-0 lead. The goal served as a morale booster for Moisakwena’s charges as they pushed for more goals with a coordinated attack led by Malabola, Tarea and Same Olatotse.

The second goal came through a brilliant free kick by Malabola in the 75^th minute to give his side a 2-0 lead.

From then on Eleven Angels were outclassed by their opponents who showed more composure on the ball while Angles struggled to maintain ball possession, and missed out on clear cut chances with many of their shots going over the bar.

The game ended 2-0 in favour of Francistown City Greens. ENDs