The victory at The Nest ground saw City Polar cut the lead between the two sides to just two points. Notwane are also in the mix after a 2-1 win over Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
Toronto are now four points behind Matebele. It was a very fast paced start to the tie at the Nest as both teams sought an early goal. However, both sides were let down by some poor decision making in the final third. The home side came close on the 17th minute when Thato Maponda went for a low drive but the goalkeeper saved well.
Five minutes later, Keremoreng Batisani was superbly denied by the goalkeeper. On the 28th minute, Monageng Thaele directed his free-kick over the bar. It was an all Matebele attack as visitors looked to catch them on counter attacks. From a distance Emmanuel Thabe tried a shot from outside the box but the ball was parried away for a corner kick with two minutes to the break. Chabaesele Mositwane met the corner kick at the near post but the goalkeeper was up to the task as City Polar responded late in the half. Unlike the first, the second half went off to a rather slow start as both teams failed to penetrate into the final third in the first 15 minutes of the half.
On the 62nd minute, Thabe thought he had given the visitors the lead as he lobbed his effort over the advancing goalkeeper but he was off the post. As the host went for attack, substitute, Bernard Obotseng headed his effort over the bar on the 69th minute. Thabe was wide off the post on the 73rd minute on the other end with half volley. Jackie Tapologo saw his long range effort well saved by the keeper. Substitute, Abubukah Mutawakal gave City Polar the lead with a fine finish from inside the box on the 84th minute. The visitors held on to take the maximum points on the afternoon and moved to the second spot. “It was a very, very tough game, more so that in the first half we could not play at all. We did not settle in the first half. We did not play but in the second half we picked up our game.
We decided not to respect them and that is when we started playing but all in all it was very good game,” City Polar’s assistant coach, Thabo ‘Booster’ Mothibi said. For his part, Matebele head coach, Elias Chinyemba was a disappointed man as he felt his side did not come to the party.
The teams: Matebele: Thabo Dambe, Kgosietsile Ernest, Monageng Thaele, Obonye Moswate, Lemme Pilato, Osego Gaotewe, Thatayaone Nkwapa (Bernard Obotseng), Lesego Motlhabankwe, Kemoreng Batisani (Onkemetse Paulo), Moeteletedi Ditshweu (Keorapetse Ramakgathi), Thabo Maponda City Polar: Tshomarelo More, Kabelo Thari, Gofaone Molapi, Tiro Motsumi, Lame Mogwera, Osenotse Fologang (Jackie Tapologo), Chabaesele Mositwane, Emmanuel Thabe (Aboubaka Mutawakal) Onalethata Khuta (Katlego Bogatsu), Thabo Phatsima, Kamogelo Kashiwa Caution: Batisani
Matebele 0 City Polar 1 (Mutawakal 84th)
