Hoodooed Birds rue their errors
ALEXANDRA - 'Malvin's Girls', as Bluebirds are popularly known among their avid fans, were held to a goalless draw by a weak UJ Ladies that played like lambs to the slaughter.
Bluebirds were left to rue their missed chances when they played to a goalless draw in the Sasol Women’s League against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Ladies at the Alexandra Stadium over the weekend.
Despite having control of the game and creating a lot of chances, the Birds forwards comprising Natasha Goge, Nyatama Mnguni and Tshwarelo Digaota, failed to utilise the scoring opportunities they got.
The forwards exploited the gaps that were evident in the UJ defence but they were not clinical when it came to finishing, and all their chances were either saved by the opposition’s keeper or went begging.
This prompted Birds defender Sisipho Samente to move forward occasionally to try her luck in the hope she could break the goal hoodoo but failed twice as both her efforts were cleared off the line.
Birds keeper Sphesihle Madala cast a lonely figure in her goals as she was never troubled by the visitors who could not break the resolute Birds defence to make a meaningful attempt on goals.
The few opportunities that the UJ Ladies created were easily dealt with by the Birds number two goal minder playing in the absence of the injured Asa Rabalao.
“No matter how hard and what we tried to do, the ball just couldn’t cross the line. The most notable chance was squandered by Natasha after Mnguni took on the UJ defenders and played a great cross with just the net to feed but she failed to convert the glorious opportunity,” said Birds mentor, Malvin Khumalo as he rued his team’s missed chances.
“In the second half I felt we deserved a goal or two given the work ethic showed by the team, but that was not to be and at the end it was one of those games where luck eluded us.”
Birds play their next game against Mabopane side Zebra Forces on 1 October.
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