- Galaxy took advantage of the lacuna created after two Nico players were red-carded and collected maximum points
GAZETTE REPORTER
Jwaneng Galaxy head coach, Morena Ramoreboli, has applauded his team for the fighting spirit and character that they displayed when they overcame multiple obstacles to record a dramatic 2-1 victory over Nico United last Friday.
Galaxy needed a late winner to thwart multiple threats posed by Nico at the Sam Sono Stadium in Selibe-Phikwe in a game that produced two red cards for the home side and multiple talking points.
The victory has helped maintain a one point between table topping Galaxy and their nearest rivals Township Rollers in the hunt for the league title.
Marching orders
The home side took the lead as Nigel Mlauzi opened the scoring in the first half. Galaxy pushed for an equaliser and were rewarded in the second half when Gift Moyo levelled matters.
Nico’s Gaolathe Tshupegetso was given his marching orders in the 76th minute. Mlauzi also got a red card in injury time to see Nico reduced to nine men on the pitch at a crucial point of the match. Tshupegetso was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area while Mlauzi was red carded following a scuffle with Galaxy’s Moagi Sechele who also got sent off.
Galaxy took advantage of their numerical superiority and pushed for a late winner, which was secured by Daniel Msendami who scored minutes after the referee signalled additional 13 minutes of injury time.
Hope dashed
The game took yet another twist as the home side was awarded a penalty giving them hope for a late equaliser. However, Goitseone Phoko managed to save the penalty to ensure that Galaxy returned to Jwaneng with maximum points.
The referee’s decision to add 13 minutes of optional time drew moans of disapproval from the home crowd but Ramoreboli believes that the officiating team deserves credit for the way they handled the heated game.
“This was a very emotional match,” said the Galaxy coach. “Our boys showed character to come back from the 1-0 lag at the break. We must also give credit to the match officials because it was an emotional game.
Mental fortitude
“All four officials managed the game well because there could have been three or four more red cards. The fourth official did very well to control the situation, especially around the bench.
“This was a game that tested our character. It needed mental fortitude, which is what we showed in the match. We were trailing at half time and we recognised that we needed to make tweaks to the line-up, hence the two early substitutions.
“From a distance, it seemed we were playing with two Number 10s but we wanted to push and extend our last line.”
Cohesion
The South African tactician suggested that overloading the final third of the pitch helped push Nico back and forced them into making mistakes that ultimately gave them a route back into the game.
“Msendami was introduced to make runs behind Nico’s backline because they were even starting to play deep,” Ramoreboli noted. “In the end, we needed cohesion in order to execute our game plan.”
Popa pressure
Meanwhile, Rollers succeeded in piling up the pressure on Galaxy as they held up their end of the challenge by winning their game against Eleven Angels in Francistown on Saturday.
Rollers won the match 4-2 courtesy of goals from Thabo Rakgale, Mosha Gaolaolwe and a brace by Mogakolodi Ngele.