No score settled as Emanuel FC draws 2-2 against Giyani Happy Boys
Emanuel FC held Giyani Happy Boys to draw over the weekend, in a Motsepe Stream-A league match played at Giyani stadium.
The match between the two rival teams had been widely awaited with jubilation by supporters from both sides. The teams come from the same area and had been playing against each other for years even before the introduction of Motsepe lower leagues; hence the match on Saturday was crucial for both sides to prove their dominance.
For the most part, it was more about settling the scores than scoring points for the league as both sides reeled under pressure to win the match to please the cheering supporters at the grandstand. Giyani Happy Boys started off as the favourites to win due to their number one
position in the league compared to Emanuel FC who are not doing well. However, the tables turned against them when Emanuel FC sneaked a goal in the first three minutes of the game.
The goal boosted their fighting spirit with hopes that maybe they could win the game against their rival, the most feared team in the league. For much of the first half, this fighting spirit bolstered Emanuel FC and looked like it was going to end with a 1-0 score against Giyani Happy Boys. However, things changed when they came back for the second half. Giyani Happy Boys appeared determined to score an equalising goal to avoid an embarrassing defeat from a long-time rival.
A goal soon came to even the score to 1-1 just a few minutes into the second half and Emanuel FC countered with another goal to continue the lead in the match by two goals to one. This again placed pressure on Giyani Happy Boys who had to play a chasing game in search of another equalising goal. With their strikers’ constant breaches on Emanuel FC’s defense, it did not take long before they found the net again to make it 2-2, a score that both sides maintained up to the last whistle.
Also read: Emmanuel FC and Giyani Happy Boys to play derby
Although not what fans from both sides were looking for, most were glad they did not lose the match to their long-time rival. For them, it was all about keeping their pride and tradition of the games between the two rivals than maintaining their position in the league. While the draw will not do much harm to Emanuel FC in the league, it has technically unseated Giyani Happy Boys from their first spot in the league. Before the match on Saturday, Giyani Happy Boys was leading the league with 16 points out of 6 matches, followed by Mpheni Home Defenders FC with 15 points out of 5 matches.
A draw against Emanuel FC over the weekend means their position in the league is now at stake. A single win by Mpheni Home Defenders will easily shift them to the second position. In order for Giyani Happy Boys to keep their position, Mpheni Home Defenders has to lose two games, which seems unlikely considering that they are also a strong side.
