The Reds were taken in to extra time by their second tier opponents. They will meet Security Systems as they look to defend their title in a final match to be played this coming Saturday.
From the onset it looked to be a tightly contested tie and fans had to wait until the 17th minute to witness the first real goalscoring chance. Thatayaone Kgamanyane's headed effort went over the bar. GU came close again six minutes later as Alphord Velaphi delivered a cross but Kekaetswe Moloi shot wide off the post.
On the other side, Thabo Maponda had his lowly drilled shot parried for a corner by the goalkeeper on the 32nd minute. Tackles flew high in the match and the referee was not shy to issue yellow cards as he stamped his authority. It was 0-0 draw at half time. Just a minute in to second half, Matebele were reduced to a man down after Bernard Kebotsang was shown a second yellow card for dangerous play. The team suffered another blow just two minutes later as Obonye Moswate was stretched off with an injury and he was replaced by Motheo Modise.
The Reds on other hand had sight at goal on the hour mark as substitute Mpho Kgaswane tried from just outside the box but his shot was wide. Matebele had yet another injury blow as Lesego Motlhabankwe was substituted for Mbase Ngakaetsile. Just a minute before regulation time, Onkabetse Makgantai was brought down inside the box but the referee waved GU's penalty appeal and the player earned his place in the referee’s book. A minute in extra time, Matebele head coach Elias Chinyemba was sent to the stands. Three minutes later Kgaswane opened the scores. On the brink of the extra time break, Thabo Maponda leveled the scores capitalising from a mistake by the GU’s keeper Ookeditse Semelamela.
GU regained the lead five minutes in to the second half of the extra time with Makgantai showing composure inside the box to slot one past the keeper. Matebele assistant coach, Ikageng Tsatsi was disappointed with the officiating on the night. "I was so disappointed with the officiating; the centre referee to be precise. His decisions were questionable.
It looked like they were one sided and unfortunately there is nothing we can do. The referee's decision is final but they must introspect themselves and work out their errors,” he said. GU's head coach Innocent Morapedi lauded Matebele for being a worthy opponent. “This team, despite playing in the lower division, their quality is not questionable. They can match anyone who plays in the elite league. What you should reckon with is that when you are a winning team you are bound to encounter this kind of fatigue because a lot of games will be coming thick and fast. You will find yourself congested, playing many games in a short period of time,” he said.
The teams: GU: Ookeditse Semelamela, Alford Velaphi, Mothusi Johnson (Tshepo Malgas), Kennedy Amutenya, Thato Kebue, Karabo Phiri (Mpho Kgaswane), Lesego Galenamotlhale, Thatayaone Ramatlapeng (Sizwe Twala), Thero Setsile, Kekaetswe Moloi (Onkabetse Makgantai), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Obonwe Maome)
Matebele: Kenalemang Neo, Leruo Ratala, Monageng Thaele, Duncan Tshireletso, Obonye Moswate (Motheo Modise), Lesego Motlhabankwe (Mbase Ngakaetsile), Kemmy Pilato, Mooketsi Simon (Khumbulani Madziba), Bernard Kebotsang, Thabo Maponda, Thatayaone Nkwapa (Bonno Mosea) Cautions: Kebotsang, Makgantai, Setsile Dismissal: Chinyemba, Kebotsang
GU 2 (Kgaswane 94' aet, Makgantai 110' aet) Matebele 1 (Maponda 105'aet)
