Nico benefits from wasteful Gunners
Chippa Legodimo | Monday December 2, 2013 16:03
Although Gunners won 2-1, Nico sailed through courtesy of away goals following their 1-0 victory in the first leg.
The ailing Lobatse giants could have taken the lead as early as the 4th minute when Monageng Thaele whipped a beautiful cross into the box but Nelson Moreetsi reacted quickly to avert the early onslaught.
Gunners' new find, Bogosi Mfila fluffed a golden opportunity after 26 minutes from a cross, allowing Nico goalkeeper, Basimanebotlhe Moilwa to spring forward to avert danger.
Mfila was back to haunt Moilwa five minutes later when he finished a Thaele cross to give Gunners a 1-0 lead.
The goal seemed to inject life into Gunners' game as they started playing with more confidence, taking the fight to their opponents.
Cameroon import, Tsala Aime charged forward in the 37th minute as it became clear Nico had adopted a cautious approach but his header went over the bar. However, the Gunners' spark did not last long.
Oduetse Rakoma delivered a dangerous cross into the box catching almost the whole of the Gunners defence off guard but no one was there to capitalise.
Gunners returned fire, Mfila missing another chance after a good supply by Tshepo Molefhe just a minute before the break. A goal at this moment could have eased pressure on the hosts. Mfila's goal separated the two sides at half-time.
Kenneth Mogae's Nico returned with more vigour in search of an equaliser in the second.
They were dully rewarded when Gift Moyo's wizardry earned his team what eventually proved an all-important penalty in the 50th minute though it looked like the Zebras man had easily gone down.
Nico star, Topo Piet who went on to claim the man of the match award, stepped up to score from the spot to spoil Gunners' party.
After the equaliser, Gunners surged forward in numbers and left gaps at the back that Nico nearly punished. In the 80th minute goalkeeper, Moathodi Ndana had to single-handedly thwart the talented Moyo. A minute later,
Mfila missed another good opportunity after beating his marker. Moments later, he finally found the back of the net to make it 2-1 but it was too little too late.
But even then, Gunners could have still squeezed through had substitute Tlhagiso Mathews been more resourceful in the last minute. The former TAFIC forward went for glory but missed with three teammates inside the box calling for the ball.