19 Feb 2019

Security Systems threw everything they had to escape an embarrassing loss against BR Highlanders, forcing the game to end with a three-goal draw in a BTC Premiership game played in Molepolole on February 17.

BR Highlanders made their intentions known the minute the referee blew his whistle, taking the game to their opponents who seemed unsettled.

The Mahalapye-based team played an exciting brand of football, exchanging short passes while attacking with speed, utilising their wings.

Their attacks eventually paid dividends when they got their first goal through Goitseone Legopelo following a throw in which the System defenders failed to deal with.

The goal must have given them Duracell batteries as they increased their pace and continued to torment their opponents. It was clear that the security company lads were unprepared for the mammoth task ahead.

BR Highlanders increased their tally to two goals through a free kick. Phomolo Moahi connected with the ball from a free kick and his cross found an unmarked Tumo Keiketile who just tapped the ball inside the net to take his team to a 2 nil lead.

Seeing that the game was getting beyond their reach, Systems fought with everything, with Ronald Chikomo’s shot landing straight into the keeper’s hands, and a minute later he tried a bicycle kick which, however, went over the bar.

Systems thought they had pulled one back, but it was disallowed.

Chikomo’s shot hit the bar and returned to play with the goalkeeper trying to get hold of it. The ball rolled into the net, but the referee disallowed the goal ruling a foul.  Legopelo was back in attack, but his header from Keiketile’s corner kick went wide to the relief of Daniel Nare’s men.

Systems went on the attack and won themselves a corner through which Chikomo raised over the BR Highlander’s defenders to pull one back for his team to make the scoreline 2-1 at half-time.

The second half saw the two teams increasing their pace, with BR Highlanders using power play as they pushed forward, now with more men behind the ball.

BR Highlanders struggled to clear corner kicks and in one incident, Thato Ogopotse thought he had sneaked a header behind the goalkeeper, but the ball went wide.

Moahi, who provided an assist for the second goal, could have easily connected with a cross from Remmington Masuku but was ball watching.  Systems levelled matters through Kenanao ‘Floh’ Kgetholetsile who connected from a corner taken by Tlabakwe.

Masuku troubled his defence, winning the ball most of the time and in one incident, Bophelo Macheng fouled him just on the edge of the penalty area, but Keiketile’s shot landed safely on the keeper’s hands.

A minute later, BR Highlanders broke out in a counter-attack with Moahi unmarked most of the time, but he failed to make the right pass to Masuku who had made a run expecting the ball.

Highlanders’ coach introduced Kealeboga Otsile taking out Brian Kobe.

Moahi had a poor second half, losing numerous golden opportunities and eventually he was pulled out, with Otlotleng Dintwa coming in.

Masuku returned with a powerful shot which however hit the up-right bar, and Dintwa proved to be a super substitute as he headed the rebound.

With the scoreline reading 3 – 2, BR Highlanders thought they had maximum points in the bag but Systems continued fighting.

With a few minutes of regulation time left, the referee ruled a foul on Kgetholetsile and Chikomo launched a powerful shot to rescue a point for his team.

The two teams are tied with 20 points each with Security Systems sitting at number 11 followed by Highlanders due to goal difference.

ENDs