Indlovu boosts top three chances with a 1-0 win over Diepslot Arsenal
Indlovu can only finish on 69 points if they win their remaining matches.
Thato ‘Shuga’ Mabunda’s set-piece goal boosted Indlovu’s regional league top-three hopes after they defeated Diepsloot Arsenal 1–0 at Rabie Ridge Stadium.
The Midrand side is currently sitting in fifth position with 48 points. Malandela Mighty Heroes are on the same points but are in fourth due to a better goal margin. Both teams have played 29 matches.
Indlovu’s coach Thato Legodi, who had been targeting to finish ‘at least in the top eight’, said his team’s victory against Arsenal has put them in an ideal position where they could shift their focus on finishing in the top three.
With seven games left to play, Opopo FC and FC Munich are the only teams fighting for the first spot. Opopo are on 76 points and Munich 71 after 29 and 28 matches respectively.
Indlovu can only finish on 69 points if they win their remaining matches. This could land them in third place but only if the Hungry Lions and Mighty Heroes lose some of their matches.
In their encounter with Arsenal on April 20, Indlovu started brightly albeit with a weakened line-up.z
“In regional football, most of the time if games are played during the week you are competing with children that are at school or some are working. I had so many players absent it forced me to play with a 3-5-1-1 system mainly because I wanted to play more offensively. I’ve missed some of my defenders today that’s why I’ve used the formation,” said Legodi.
Their efforts were rewarded after Arsenal’s keeper made a blunder from Mabunda’s free-kick that ended up in the net.
It was a game of two halves as Arsenal dominated the second half but could not convert their chances.
“In the second half, I knew the score was 1–0. I had nothing to lose and it was a league match. So what I did was return to a 4-3-3 formation and introduce another defensive player and substituted a winger.
“This made it simple for us in terms of defence as I allowed Arsenal to have the ball in their half when they were not so dangerous while we used Gift Matjokotja’s speed up-front.”
Legodi summed up his boys’ performance as average and said he was happy to collect all three points from a stubborn Arsenal.
“These boys are great players but I think we can do better. I believe we could be in the top three by now but I guess this is us saying next season we are coming for it.
“I must point out players like Lukhanyo Mapeyi and Sello Kgodu, they’ve worked extremely well.”
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