Botswana knocked out Of World Cup qualifiers
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday July 27, 2015 13:07
The team lost by a solitary goal in a dull second leg encounter played at the Molepolole Sports Complex on Friday afternoon.
The Botswana side started with Sedilame Bosija in the goal posts, while captain Kefilwe Tholakele and Masego Koboto led the team’s attack.
The visiting team’s line up remained the same with playmaker Gabriella Salgado starting in the middle of the park, while goal poachers Anelisa Ndyebi and Thami Sikweza led the team’s front line.
The game started on a low pace, with the visitors enjoying a lion’s share of the ball possession. The midfield combination of skipper Amo Motau, Puleng Moremi and Salgabo proved to be too strong for the local women. Their defence looked shaky through out the first half and struggled to keep their attackers at bay, but goalkeeper Bosija dealt with every shot that came her way.
The second half started on a high pace with visitors taking the game to the local girls. With only a minute in to the second half, Salgabo pulled a long-range shot from outside the penalty area but Bosija calmly saved the shot. A combination of short passes found Ndyebi who beat the offside trap and calmly put the ball in the far post to give the South Africans the lead in the 50th minute. Kefilwe Lentswe nearly pulled one back for Botswana five minutes later, but her shot went wide.
Ndyebi nearly bagged a brace after a defensive blunder by the home team, but she narrowly missed the target. In the 73rd minute, Lentswe made way for Banyana Thekiso and Botswana started showing more hunger with Thekiso, Koboto and Tholakele combining well but their efforts failed to trouble Mapaseka Mpuru who had a rather quite afternoon.
Tholakele found Koboto with a through ball, but the latter missed a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper making superb save. Goal scorer Ndyebi was substituted in 80th minute for Lelona Daweti and the substitute nearly made an impact after dribbling past the defence but her shot found Bosija well positioned. Botswana’s dream of advancing to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers was shuttered a fortnight ago when the women soccer team was humbled 8-1 by South Africa. It was always looked an impossible task to reverse the score line in their home ground.
The line-ups:
Botswana: Bosija, Refilwe Matlho, Masego Koboto (Kelebogile Magaga), Kefilwe Tholakele, Kesego Matlhatsa (Segolame Kampedi), Warona Molete, Nancy Baeletsi, Kefilwe Lentswe (Banyana Thekiso), Semphete Segwati, Gonayamodimo Macha, Oratile Baraedi
South Africa: Mapaseka Mpuru, Amanda Mthandi, Tiisetso Makhubela, Charmelle Wiltshire, Linda Motlhalo, Thami Sikweza (Lelona Daweti), Amo Motau (Thalea Smidt), Gabriella Salgabo, Bongeka Gamede, Anelisa Ndyebi (Mosili Makhaoli), Puleng Ndyebi