The two teams met yesterday (Sunday) at the Riverplate grounds in what could be defined as a ‘game of two halves’. The visitors looked dangerous just seconds into the tie when Bakang Mpatane got at the end of an enterprising move but his effort went over the goalpost. On the 11th minute, Mpatane once again came close but missed the target as his headed effort went wide off the post. Five minutes later, Alfred Gopolang gave Chiefs their first attempt at goal but the shot went over the bar.
Arnold Mampori also saw his effort from the freekick go over the cross bar in the 19th minute.
The game tempo slowed down until the 40th minute when Malvin Moyo’s shot was parried away for a corner kick. It was 0-0 at half time but the visitors felt they had better chances at goal.
From the start of the second half, Chiefs looked the better of the two teams. With Angels looking like a side with heavy legs, Magosi’s confidence in tie grew by the minute. On the hour mark, Moyo once again tried from range but his effort was easily saved by the goalkeeper. In the other end, Mompati Mmeshe tried a shot from outside the box but it was also dealt with by the goakeeper. Magosi seemingly settled into the tie, however could not test the opposition goalkeeper. Angels on the other end sat back and thwarted anything the home side threw at them. In remaining 10 minutes, the two sides did not commit much going forward with the second leg tie in mind.
Much to the disappointment of the hundreds of fans at the ground, the match did not produce a goal. Chiefs’ assistant coach, David Tlhowe said the Sunday result is just a hiccup and the team will deliver its promise to return to the elite league. “To the Chiefs fans and well wishers, as we have promised before, you should not worry. This is football, we will correct our mistakes and we will be Francistown in the next week and we want you to rally behind us. We promise that we will finish the job there and promote this team to the Premier League,” he said.
Angels coach, Seemo ‘16’ Mpatane was disappointed his plan did not work on the day and said they are hoping for a better result in the second leg. “We knew that coming here won’t be easy. Our plan did not work as we thought, we are still positive and we have to get a better result in the second leg,” he said.
The Teams:
Chiefs: Tshenolo Letshelea, Maatla Magosha, Gomotsang Tselaesele, Bokamoso Mbambo, Donald Rapulane, Arnold Mampori, Malvin Moyo, Alfred Gopolang, Oarabile Powe (Koketso Mphukhuti), Khumoetsile Kufigwa, Emmanuel Thabe
Angels: Keletso Lekuni, Fungai Muzila, Kefilwe Sekgopi, Ntesang, Marcus Maokaneng, Mompati Mmeshe, Mompati Mbidzo (Ofentse Mbaiwa), Bakang Mpatane, Desmond Mtokufa, Tshokolo Sebawe (Keletso Ogotseng), Monty Enosa (Jacob Matlalo)
Chiefs 0 Angels 0
