STUDENT TEACHES THE MASTER HOW
Stars wallop United 3-0
SUPERSPORT United coach Cavin Johnson endured an unhappy return to North West as his side were handed a 3-0 spanking by Platinum Stars in an Absa Premiership match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium yesterday.
Mogakolodi Ngele scored a second-half brace, while Henrico Botes also got his name on the scoresheet for the hosts. Dikwena coach Allan Freese made four changes to his side, while United coach Cavin Johnson made two.
Freese recalled Tintswalo Tshabalala, Issa Sarr, Mogakolodi Ngele and Siphelele Mthembu to the starting 11.
Johnson handed Mogogi Gabonamong and Sibusiso Zuma a start. The start for Zuma was his first of the season after returning from a long injury lay-off.
Vuyo Mere and Sameehg Doutie went close for their respective sides in the opening 10 minutes, Mere ’ s deflected free-kick going just wide of Rowen Williams ’ post, while Doutie failed to convert from close range following a good run from former Dikwena winger Thuso Phala.
Williams was forced into a good save by Tshabalala in the 17th minute.
Tshabalala fired a fierce effort at goal but Williams was up to the task.
David Mathebula squandered a glorious chance to give the visitors the lead nine minutes later.
Zuma picked out an unmarked Mathebula in the area but the midfielder was unable to direct his header on target from point-black range.
Henrico Botes put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute. The Namibian international controlled a long ball forward brilliantly before directing his effort past an out of position Williams.
The goal was Botes ’ 29th in the colours of Dikwena, a new club record.
Stars continued to press forward and nearly doubled their lead through Robert Ng ’ ambi a minute before the break.
The Malawian lost his marker but was unable to get on the end of a Tshabalala corner-kick with an open net beckoning.
Ngele doubled the home side ’ s lead five minutes into the second stanza.
The Botswana interna- tional found himself in space before directing his effort past Williams and into the back of the net via the inside of the post.
Ngele completed his brace in the 65th minute.
The Dikwena midfielder picked up the ball from Ng ’ ambi before making a darting run through the heart of Matsatsantsa ’ s defence and sliding the ball into the back of the net.
The 23-year old went close to bagging a hat-trick three minutes later, but he was unable to beat Williams this time.