Kempton Park Spurs win tournament
Spurs missed one penalty and scored three which handed them the three-one win to progress to the final.
A top-four football tournament took place at the Laerskool Kreft Stadium on April 14.
The participating teams were Kempton Park Spurs, Masakona Masters, Norwood Masters and Mohlaka Motala FC.
Kempton Park Spurs won the title.
The first game was played between Kempton Park Spurs and the Masakona Masters.
Both teams started off the game energetically and tried to score an early goal so that they would have the freedom to play at their own pace and dictate the game.
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The teams went tooth and nail but Spurs had a slight edge over Masakona.
Spurs created better and more deadlier goal-scoring opportunities, but they failed to convert any.
Masakona displayed a good defensive structure with very few leaks.
Spurs were the more threatening side, and they were rewarded for their efforts as they took the lead at the stroke of half-time through a brilliant finish by their jersey number 10, Emmanuel Chihaka.
The game went into half-time with Spurs leading 1-0.
The second half was nothing short of amazing with both teams refusing to back down.
Masakona created clearer chances than they did in the first half. Being a goal behind forced them to attack more and defend less.
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The team got a goal back through Thando Sajini when he slotted the ball in with ease.
After the equaliser, Spurs looked more threatening as they launched attack after attack and the Masakona defence started leaking.
The game ended in a one-all draw and went to penalties.
Masakona missed three penalties and only managed to score one. Spurs missed one and scored three which handed them the three-one win, progressing to the final.
During the second game, Norwood Masters took on Mohlaka Motala FC.
Norwood wanted to bury the game early as they created more chances.
Motala goalkeeper was the busiest of the two keepers as Norwood launched multiple attacks and the goalie had to make a couple of crucial saves.
Norwood eventually found the back of the net through Tso Makwetla after a nice build-up from the back.
Norwood controlled the midfield, which made it easier for them to dictate the pace of the game.
Norwood went into half-time leading with a goal to nil.
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Norwood started the second half with the same intensity they had in the first. Mohlaka tried to create better goal-scoring opportunities than they did in the first half and were awarded a penalty after their play was fouled inside the eighteen area.
Nkoshilo Mamabolo failed to convert the penalty and sent the ball over the crossbar.
The team increased their intensity and started attacking Norwood more through their wingers.
The Norwood team managed to own the midfield again and sealed the game when the team’s Ace Gwangwa scored before full-time, giving them a 2-0 win.
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Kempton Park Spurs took on Norwood Masters in the final.
The final proved to be the nail-biting game it was expected to be.
The match was fairly even as both teams matched each other’s intensity.
Spurs took their chance and set the tone with a goal by Emmanuel Chihaka. It was his second goal of the tournament.
Masters tried to get on level terms by creating goal-scoring opportunities but could not convert.
The game went into half-time with Spurs leading 1-0.
Masters started the second half on fire and launched an attack that tested the Spurs goalkeeper.
Spurs keeper Tapiwa Mavima was up for the task and made a crucial save to deny Masters a shot at evening out the playing field.
The Kempton Park side then started to intensify their attacks and the Master’s defence was caught napping.
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Spurs doubled their lead through Pule Maoto and Spurs managed to get another goal just minutes later which was then judged offside.
Masters struggled to penetrate the Spurs, so they started shooting long from outside the box.
Spurs absorbed all the pressure and hit back with two quick goals from Joel Mwakasa and Kelvin Takavada.
With the score 4-0 to Spurs, Masters started scraping for a consolation goal as time was running out.
