Northerns positive despite defeat

Zondani Chindlovu and Timothy Okocha scored for Luso Africa, while Lusanda Hlalazo scored Northerns’ only goal.

July 17, 2023

Lebohang Pita 2 minutes read

Benoni Northerns FC’s Lebo Mamale played a pivotal role in their match against Luso Africa’s first team.

Never mind the scoreline, things finally seem to be coming together for coach Andrew Kelly’s Benoni Northerns Football Club (BNFC) first team.

Despite losing their Easterns Super League tie 2-1 against Luso Africa from Germiston on July 1 at Benoni Northerns Sports Club (BNSC) grounds, Kelly’s men put in a full shift to ensure the league holders worked for their win.

“We didn’t complicate anything. We knew where our strengths were and where their weaknesses were. We focused on our plan,” said Northerns skipper Calvin Ntsieng.

Monare Makhafula of Benoni Northerns FC was challenged by a Luso Africa defender.

The Northerns fans responded with the same vigour watching their team play the way Kelly had intended – all fleet-footed movements and accurate speed, which was devastating and beautiful.

“It was a game of two halves, but today they were the better team. It’s not like we gave up. We put in a good shift. Unlucky for the loss, but we’ll keep pushing,” added Ntsieng.

It was evenly poised, barring a few moments when the visitors had the hosts in ones and twos in both halves, with Zondani Chindlovu, who limped off injured in the second half, being a nuisance to the Northerns back four.

Luso Africa reserves’ Donovan Thompson marched past a Northerns defender.

The hosts showed intent early when marksman Loyiso Hlalazo missed a glorious chance after Kgositsilenala Mogedi’s pinpoint cross on the right.

Mogedi found himself through after nutmegging the Luso left-back. He had time to pick up Hlalazo inside the area, but the keeper smothered the striker’s tame shot.

However, the visitors turned the screws after Chindlovu put Luso ahead with a tap-in against the run of play.
Then the Northerns keeper was called into action twice within minutes.

Benoni Northerns FC reserves’ Sunnyboy Skhosana.

First, Roberto da Silva found himself with acres of space in the Northerns area, but the keeper saved the Luso captain’s effort with his feet and had to track back to parry the rebound wide for a corner. Second, the keeper then kept out Lebone Lephiri’s close-range effort after some nifty footwork by Magomarela Ramphahlele on the left.

Northerns mustered no less than nine shots in the first half, and despite their Lebo Mamale-led onslaught as the half wound up, they went into the break trailing 1-0.

The second stanza began with controversy when the referee awarded Luso a penalty but overturned it after consulting with his linesman.

Luso Africa’s Zondani Chindlovu dribbles past Northerns defender Josh Murray.

Disappointed at being denied this chance, Chindlovu took matters into his own hands, first marching past Murray and then Michael Juanas-Uriol but he couldn’t get his shot past the keeper.

Then the shortest man on the field, Hlalazo, beat the lanky Luso defence led by the bulky Timothy Okocha to equalise for Northerns from a set-piece on the right.

Luso got a set piece of their own, and Okocha rose the highest to head in a ball that ricocheted off the upright to make it 2-1 and seal the win for his team.

• Earlier, the reserves’ match had to be cut short following a fight in the Northerns camp, but the Luso reserves won 2-0.

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