29 Nov 2020

Jwaneng Galaxy were too strong for US De Zilimadjou in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round on Saturday. 

Galaxy crushed the team from Comoros Islands 4-0 in Lobatse. 

The Jwaneng-based team would take a commanding lead into the return leg scheduled for this coming weekend in the Comoros.

The winner of the tie would meet South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the next round in December. 

Gape Mohutsiwa, Lebogang Ditsile and Gilbert Baruti combined well as Galaxy dominated the midfield. 

They created many openings for the three-man frontline of Tebogo Sembowa, Resaobaka Thatanyane and Thero Setsile. 

The visitors, however, nearly took the lead in the 13th minute when midfielder, Bacar Youssef, hit a powerful shot inches wide after combining with Boina Raidou inside the danger area.

Galaxy made their dominance count in the 29th minute. Moagi Sechele played a clever pass behind the defence to Thatanyane and the young striker calmly looped the ball into the net. 

Sembowa was denied by a last-ditch tackle moments later, but defender Isaac Paeye doubled the lead from close range in the 36th minute after the visitors failed to clear a corner kick.

The Zilimadjou goalkeeper, Issihaka Moussa, pulled off two stunning saves to deny Galaxy more goals before the halftime break. The goalkeeper made more saves in the second half to prevent a goal feast. 

The outstanding Ditsile came close to adding a third in the 51st minute with a powerful header from a cross by Sembowa.

Galaxy goalkeeper, Katlego Mbise, made a rare save to parry away a low shot from Mohamed Chamoume after the Galaxy defence was caught napping.  

Setsile, who worked tirelessly throughout the match added a third in the 73rd minute before substitute Lemogang Maswena ran onto a defence-splitting pass from Mohutsiwa to round off the scoring in the third minute of additional time.  

The victory was the first competitive match for Galaxy coach Sikalame ‘Six’ Keatlholetswe, who was making a return to top-level football after his last spell in 2011 at BDF XI. Ends