Ostriches prevail once again on penalties
Masitaoka (3) Orapa United 0 (4)
Orapa United have once again proved their mettle in penalty shootouts when they knocked Masitaoka out of the Orange FA Cup on Saturday afternoon. The Ostriches emerged 4-3 winners in the semi final played at the Roya Aria Stadium to advance to the final of the knockout competition.
The two sides had played to a 0-0 draw in normal time.
The result left Orapa United head coach, Tawurayi Mangwiro impressed. In his first season at the Ostriches, the Zimbabwean gaffer has managed to lead them to the final of the FA Cup and has already secured a top four finish in the league.
“We surely needed this. It has been a very long season and it is my first season here and by gracing the final I owe it to the fans, to everyone involved with Orapa United as well as the players,” Mangwiro said. Mangwiro added that Orapa is very much capable of going all the way in the final.
“We always believed when we started. We needed five games to be crowned champions now we are left with one game and we can go and win it to finish the season on a high note,” he said.
With Orapa going through by penalties once more, one could wonder if the Ostriches are penalty merchants but Mangwiro dismissed that thought.
“The spot kicks to decide the match are part of the game. It’s not like you would say we won the cup, but it was through penalties. I have seen world cups being won by penalties,” Mangwiro explained.
From the first whistle, the game started on a high tempo with Masitaoka starlet, Monty Enosa missing a great chance to give his side an early lead. Enosa blew away the one-on-one chance by shooting straight at goalkeeper, Lesenya Malapela who made an easy save. On the 28th minute, Kelvin Bingala came close but his effort was cleared brilliantly by Ivan Kamberipa from the line. Four minutes later, Orapa United’s lethal striker, Omaatla Kebatho nearly broke the deadlock, but goalkeeper, Thabo Motswagole was up for the task and denied him. With one minute left to halftime, Kebatho was back once more probing for the lead but this time around his effort went narrowly over the bar.
Masitaoka were far from being the underdogs in the game and posed great danger going forward but decision making in the final third let them down.
On the 55th minute, Moabi Phuthego hit a powerful shot towards Malapela but Atamelang Lesogo cut it shot and changed its direction. Ambrosius Amseb, who put on a man of the match performance, came close to getting one for his side after beating the whole defence all by himself but decision in the final third let him down.
Substitute, Kagisano Mungu of Orapa missed a one-on-one opportunity as Motswagole came out tops against him. The two teams headed to an extra time. Fatigue caught up with the two teams in extra time, with the game losing the fast pace it had in the 90 minutes.
In extra time, the two teams failed yet again to score and the game was to be decided by the penalties.
Orapa slotted all of its penalties as they continue making a name for themselves in the penalty shootouts, whereas substitute Christopher Lemme became the only player to miss the penalty on the day as he slipped and fell before taking the penalty.
The teams:
Masitaoka: Thabo Motswagole, Tapiwa Sepatela, Ivan Kamberipa, Obusitswe Gabadise, Thabang Khuduga, Marius Kotze, Olebogeng Ramotse, Ambrosius Amseb, Brine Mankanku (Bakang Tsholang), Monty Enosa (Christopher Lemme), Moabi Phuthego (Tlhago Ratshukudu)
Orapa United: Lesenya Malapela, Mpho Kgaswane, Atamelang Lesogo, Mooketsi Hlabano (Thabang Mosige), Tapiwa Nyamanjiva, Thato Kebue, Koketso Majafi, Norman Mabaya, Omaatla Kebatho, Kelvin Bingala (Isakar Guirirab), Wilfred Muvirimi (Kagisano Mungu)