Moorosi Tsiane
LMPS emerged victorious with 10-men after edging Sefotha-fotha 2-1 in an Econet Premier League tie at PTC Ground yesterday afternoon.
Liteboho Tsakoa and Roboama Koloti were on target for Simunye while Sefotha-fotha’s goal came from Desire Olomo.
Yesterday’s win saw Teele Ntšonyana’s charges move to fourth with 14 points from seven matches while Sefotha-fotha remained 12th with five points from eight matches.
It took 24 minutes for Sefotha-fotha to find the back of the net with an unmarked Tsakoa heading home Basia Makepe’s cross inside the penalty area.
The visitors equalised six minutes later through a daring Olomo scored a beautiful back heel after LMPS goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane failed to clear the ball from danger.
The match went for the break with much more action as the two sides defended with discipline.
LMPS were the first to make a change in the second stanza pulling out Tšoarelo Mokoaleli for Motlatsi Kokoana on the 65th minute.
In search of another goal, Sefotha-fotha pulled out Olomo and on his behalf came in Teboho Mokoma on the 73rd minute. Mokoma was however, quickly substituted soon afterwards after a dreadful Tanki Polokoane tackle.
On his behalf came in Katleho Makateng while the referee of the day Retšelisitsoe Molise gave Polokoane his marching orders.
LMPS came close to scoring on the 79th minute but Sefotha-fotha goalkeeper Teboho Lefu saved Koakoana’s strike from just outside the penalty area.
Sefotha-fotha also came knocking but an unmarked Makateng squandered the chance by ballooning over the bar on the 81st minute.
LMPS finally got their second goal from the spot. Koloti stepped up after Karabo Makhetha fouled Kokoana inside the box and Molise pointed to the spot with five minutes left on the clock.
LMPS made their last changes introducing Relebohile Kaneli for Tsakoa while Koloti made way for Tanki Makhele.
Ntšonyana told the Lesotho Times that he was happy with the win.
“It was one of our toughest matches and we had anticipated it, so we wanted to win,” Ntšonyana said.
“This win is getting us closer to where we want to go.
“God was on our side I am out of words. It is not always easy winning against Sefotha-fotha, so we are happy with the maximum points.”
Polokoane being the second LMPS player to be red-carded this season, Ntšonyana said they are working on the team’s discipline.
“We are always addressing the issue of discipline; our players must be professional. It’s a mammoth task for the coaches to finally get it right. It is actually everyone’s responsibility in the team from the management to the players and I do not condone ill-discipline in any way,” he said.
Sefotha-fotha coach Molebatsi Mothobi said he was happy with his team’s performance despite the loss.
“We played well and were just unfortunate to have committed a foul late in the match. I am happy with how we have played in the last three matches.
“However, we must just work on how we want to play once we get into the final third,” Mothobi said.
