Morupule edge out Lions

Morupule had entered the weekend eighth on the log, behind sixth placed Township Rollers and Orapa United on seventh. The victory over Lions catapulted the Palapye side to sixth place, as their rivals dropped points, spreading the Valentine’s Day cheer by sharing spoils with their opponents on Saturday afternoon as Rollers drew 1-1 away to TAFIC in Francistown, and Orapa played to a goalless draw with Matebele at Itekeng. In Tlokweng, it took just five minutes of action for Morupule to display their attacking intent.

Obonye Maome played in a well struck free kick from outside the box, forcing a save from Ryan Brown. Morupule upped the ante, playing balls onto the wide attacking channels with a view to disrupt the Lions defensive structures, and whip crosses into the box. In the 22ndminute, a Morupule attack forced left back Mokaedi Ditsie in the Lions rearguard to concede an own goal, as the visitors broke the deadlock to take a one goal lead.

As the first half drew to a close, Lions attempted to push numbers forward in search of the equaliser but Morupule defended their lines well. At half time, Lions’ Serbian coach Srdan Zivojnov introduced central attacking midfielder Tlotlo Keipidile and centre forward Tumiso Tlhotlego to replace Kelvin Bulala, who had been deployed on the wide right of a three-man attack, and Collen Moteu who had been on the right side of midfield. Thero Bubi, the promising teenager on the left side of the Lions’ attack, continued to provide the biggest threat posed by Dibata Diarora.

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As the second half wore on, Lions took control of the possession stakes, but lacked penetrative noesis in the final third. But it would be Morupule putting the game to bed with less than ten minutes to spare. Andre Domingoes rounded off attacking transition play by releasing a blistering shot that flew into the near post to give Bafana ba Magala their 2-0 triumph.

Saturday night saw log leadership exchange hands, as Gaborone United experienced their first loss of the season, a 3-2 defeat to Sua Flamengoes at the UB Stadium, and Jwaneng Galaxy moved to the top of the log standings with a 4-0 victory over Extension Gunners. This left football aficionados salivating at the prospect of the upcoming match between the top two, Galaxy and GU, as the FNB Premiership enters Match Day 20, and the final third of the season. Mochudi Centre Chiefs’ 1-1 draw with Police XI on Sunday at the GU Stadium left third placed Magosi, who are on 37 points, seven points adrift of both Galaxy and GU who sit on 44, separated by goal difference.

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