Galaxy left to rue early goal

Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday August 20, 2024 09:43

Galaxy were visitors to the Namibian side and despite dominating the game for the better part of the match, lost 1-0, thanks to an early goal by Willy 'Awillo' Stephanus. Ramoreboli said his side had the better of chances in the tie but could not recover from falling behind early into the match. 'We had a better match; we had a good game and unfortunately in football no matter how well you have played, if you do not score goals, if you do not win matches, it does not count. So I think we had a good game and tried our level best to make sure that we dominated the match. Unfortunately, we made things a little bit difficult for ourselves because we conceded early.

In the game of football when you concede early especially in that period because it was around the sixth minute, now you have to play the rest of the game chasing trying to get the result. It means you use a lot of energy trying to score and unfortunately we could not get a goal,' said Ramoreboli. Stephanus shocked the handful crowd on the fourth minute when he headed in a cross to give his side the lead with the Galaxy defence caught napping. Mxolisi Mkhonto came closest for Galaxy but his shot from long range was parried away for a corner on the 20th minute. Seven minutes later, Gilbert Baruti had only the goalkeeper to beat but he saw his effort parried away for another corner kick by Kamaijanda Ndisiro.

The local champions enjoyed much of the ball possession but could not break the African Stars' defence. Galaxy trailed 1-0 at the break. From the recess, Ramoreboli awarded debuts to new signings, Onkabetse Makgantai, Olebogeng Ramotse and Neo Mokhachane on the 65th minute while Thabiso Bante was introduced later in the tie. The second half did not produce any clear chances at goal until on the 76th minute. Ibrahim Youssof had a chance with a free-kick on the edge of the box but his effort could not trouble Goitseone Phoko. African Stars held on to take a slim advantage into the second leg to be played next Saturday at the National Stadium. Meanwhile, Orapa United came from behind to settle for a 1-1 draw against Mauritius' Foresters FC in the first leg of CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.

The teams African Stars: Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Thabang Malane, Charles Hambira, Ngero Katua, Himeekua Ketjirere, Willy Stephanus, Paulius Aludholu, Edmund Kambanda, Vitapi Ngaruka, Ibrahim Youssof, Godwin Eiseb Galaxy: Goitseone Phoko, Moagi Sechele, Lesego Kereedilwe, Thabo Leinanyane, Benson Mangolo (Onkabetse Makgantai), Kutlwelo Mpolokang, Mxolisi Mkhonto (Olebogeng Ramotse), Gilbert Baruti (Gift Moyo), Thero Setsile, Thabang Sesinyi (Thabiso Bante), Wendell Rudath (Neo Mokhachane)

Cautions: Ramotse

African Stars 1 (Stephanus 4th) Galaxy 0