Late strike is only sparkling moment of dull game
ALEXANDRA - Setho FC wins dull SAB League game against Soweto rivals, FC Meadowlands while Gauteng FC could only manage a 1–1 draw with another Soweto side, Pimvbille Young Stars.
A powerful strike by Setheo’s Colleen Mdluli in the dying minutes of their SAB League encounter against FC Meadowlands turned out to be the only sparkling moment of an otherwise dull match.
The Alex outfit, playing at home at the Alexandra Stadium, left it until late to ensure they bagged all the three points in a 1–0 victory over the Soweto club which is owned by SuperSport United midfield star, Reneilwe Letsholonyane.
The visitors started off in this scrappy game as the better side with constant raids into the goal area of Setheo but the home team’s defenders stood their ground.
The resolute defending by Setheo players enabled the two teams to go into the half-time break in a goalless stalemate.
But whatever coach Tshepo Mashatola said to his boys in the change rooms paid dividends as they came back a changed side.
It was Setheo this time around that was asking all the right questions of the visitors as they appeared to be the hungrier of the two teams.
That hunger only paid off in the 80th minute of the game when Mdluli’s powerful strike found the back of the net, the only moment of the game to write home about.
Mashatola revealed his half-time pep talk secret, saying he had poured out all the motivation he could from
the bottom of his heart. “I told my players to pull up their socks to avoid defeat in their own backyard, and I am happy this finally paid dividend and we managed to collect all three points,” said the coach.
Mashatola was optimistic of making it to the playoffs if his boys could keep up the momentum of their winning streak in the remaining 17 games.
His counterpart, Dira Laka said he was disappointed with this loss, especially going into a tough encounter next week with log leaders, Dube Continental.
“I had wanted to use a possible victory from this encounter as a motivational factor before the big encounter,” Laka said.
Meanwhile, another Alex outfit, Gauteng FC could only manage a 1–1 draw against a determined Pimville Young Stars in another SAB League game at the Alexandra Stadium.
Young Stars opened the scoring through the boot of Ntokozo Zungu and the Alex outfit replied through a penalty in the 66th minute, which was drilled home by Sifiso Fakude.
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