”He did not give us much of a game. We are very reluctant to accept this loss”
NC Liverpool won the battle on the field against Kakamas Juventus on Saturday afternoon at the AR Abass Stadium in a regular ABC Motsepe League encounter.
The final score turned out 2-0 in favour of Liverpool. The half-time score also looked good for the home team Liverpool as they had eked out a 1-0 lead by the break.
However, after the game the Liverpool team manager Andrew Setlhabi said he was far from happy with his team’s performance.
“We ought to have scored more goals. There are many games yet to play this season. If the team is serious about being in contention for the league honours then they must win more matches convincingly,” he said. This was on account of their opponents having lost one player midway through the game which Setlhabi thought his side ought to have capitalised on.
Caswell Brand of Juventus had a bigger gripe about the match referee Nkululeko Siyewi. ”He did not give us much of a game. We are very reluctant to accept this loss,” Brand said.
The game itself started at a hot pace. It took a mere 11 minutes for the match to toss up its first goal by Liverpool through the boot of former Platinum Stars development team player Tefo Phakati.
Juventus’ Melvyn Rooi and his co-striker up front struggled vainly to break through the Liverpool defence but the latter stood firm and deftly fended off their attacks.
The second half started with a throwback to the first half with the same frantic pace. The sides had both brought on pairs of fresh legs to improve their strike and defence forces.
Liverpool struck again in the 63rd minute through former Free State Stars player Athenkosi Bani who delivered a perfect strike at goal to give his team the 2-0 cushion.
In the 76th minute Juventus lost Melvyn Rooi who earned himself a red card for being quarrelsome with the referee. Liverpool, however, did not capitalise on this advantage but did manage to earn the full match points via the two goals.
Other results
ABC Motsepe League
Tornado 2-0 Colville United
Rasta Fa Eagles 2-1 Tsantsabane Stars
Olifantshoek Young Stars 1-3 United Rovers
NC Professionals 0-2 Hungry Lions
Maruping United 0-1 Kakamas Sundowns
Mainstay United 3-1 Khumalo Chiefs
Magareng Young Stars vs Kuruman Kicks (abandoned)
Sol Plaatje Masters League
Newtown 0-0 Force Legends
Masokolara 5-4 Sunshine FC
Giddy van Rooyen
