MASERU — It was probably the draw that everyone wanted to see as the M1 million Vodacom Soccer Spectacular reaches its climax.
Matlama will face Likhopo while LCS play LDF in the semi-finals on Saturday and the two winners from those matches will face off in the final on Sunday.
Matlama and defending champions LCS joined LDF and Likhopo in the top four on Sunday. After LDF had swatted Manamela aside and Likhopo held off Lioli last Saturday, Matlama overcame First Division side Qalo 4-1 to make the aggregate score-line 7-1.
Tse Putsoa winger Litšepe Marabe continued his fine scoring form with two goals in the rout.
In Sunday’s second match, LCS wide-man Ramashalane Taeli was at his best as the defending champions beat Bantu 2-1. The speedster — who has blown hot and cold over the last couple of weeks — tormented Bantu all afternoon, scoring one and having a hand in Ralekoti Mokhahlane’s winning goal.
Now, with M360 000 so tantalisingly close, attention will turn to Roma this weekend where the semi-finals and final will be played on Saturday and Sunday respectively. And in a draw made in heaven, bitter rivals Matlama and Likhopo face-off in the first semi before the two state juggernauts LDF and LCS do battle.
“We were ready for any team,” LDF public relations officer Donny Nthakha said. “We didn’t mind which team we were to get in the semi-finals.”
Meanwhile, Moseme Moseme of LCS said his team were battle-hardened after the defending champions overcame stubborn Bantu in a tough quarter-final.
“We got a Premier League side,” Moseme said.
“We are very happy with the draw. Our record against Matlama is good. They haven’t faced a tough opponent in this tournament,” Likhopo’s manager Qamako Mahao said.
Vodacom Soccer Spectacular draw:
Saturday
Matlama vs Likhopo (1pm); LDF vs LCS (3 pm)
Sunday
Third-place play-off (12:30pm); Final (3pm)
