By Dwight Sekgoro
The Sol Plaatje Local Football Association hosted some exciting games in their Under-19 Super League with one of the standout games featuring Macarena FC against Mighty Reds FC at the FNB stadium last Sunday which ended 2-1 in favour of Mighty Reds.
The game started with a flurry of attacks from both sides. In the opening minutes when the Reds looked likely to score they got dispossessed close to Macarena’s final third. Much later a long ball was played by Macarena’s defender on the path of the attacker. The Reds keeper left his box and tackled an attacker. He committed a foul that led to a straight red card. The goalkeeper had obstructed the attacker who had a clear chance at goal.
Though the Reds were down to ten men they did not drop their guard. They were attacking right after their keeper’s blunder. Shortly after the Reds had a shot on target only to be denied by the Macarena keeper. As the game progressed play was mostly confined to Macarena’s half. The Macarena team had a problem of holding on to their possession of the ball.
In the last 15 minutes of the first half Macarena started to be a little more imaginative and created attacks of their own. They kept playing the long ball, which proved effective against the Reds backline.
When looked to create an attack of their own. They left themselves open to a counterattack by Macarena. The catalyst being their captain. Taking a strike only for it to be deflected for a corner by the Macarena shot stopper.
Macarena won a corner. This led to the opening goal of the game. Their captain headed the cross into the back of the net. Closing the first half with a decisive 1-0 lead. Though the Reds had majority of possession and shots at goal they found themselves trailing at half time.
At the beginning of the second half Macarena looked to double their lead within the first minute of play and had a shot at goal. The shot was denied by the Reds goalkeeper. The game was now mostly played in the half of the Reds. They needed to clear the ball whenever it was necessary. The Reds coach made changes to get something for his team in the game.
The changes did the trick because not so long after they were made they were able to have ball possession for an extended period on the pitch.
The Reds started having good inter passing between the midfielders who went on the attack. The player unleashed a brilliant strike that left the Macarena keeper with no chance. The game was now level at 1-1. The Reds looked to be on the ascendancy attacking more frequently and having the majority of the ball possession.
After a lapse of concentration from the Macarena’s backline the Reds took advantage and played the ball to the far post where the ball was clinically dispatched by the receiving player, leaving the opposing goalkeeper with no chance. The score was now 2-1 to the Reds.
Mothusimang Letsholo, coach of Mighty Reds remarked: “There is that time when these people (the opposition) get tired and our team came to the party and at least got all three points.”
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