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LESOTHO DOWN U-20S IN FRIENDLY

27/05/2019 02:31:00 BY SANELE JELE

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(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
Eswatini…………… (0)
Lesotho……………. (0)1
Moteloa 78th

LOBAMBA – A second half strike by Lesotho captain, Moteloa Khemisi was enough to hand the visiting side a 1-0 slender win over Eswatini.
This was during an international Under-20 friendly played here yesterday at a nearly empty stadium.

The two sides played to a 1-all draw on Saturday at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium. The win for the Bob Mafoso-led side ensured they travelled home happy after recording a win in their second game.

If it was not for the dubious penalty by referee Ntokozo Mthembu, the match could have ended in a goal-less draw as the match was tightly contested. The game went into a breather with both sides at level-pegging.

It was the second half that was action packed with Moepi Ketselisitsoe getting a red card after he was cautioned for delaying with three minutes to go.

superior

The visitors were superior in the first 20 minutes as they attacked in numbers but failed to break the deadlock. However, the goal eventually came in the 78th minute through a well taken penalty by Khemisi. This was after Wandile Lushaba was cautioned after it appeared he handled the ball inside the box. Referee Ntokozo Mthembu did not hesitated but pointed on the spot.

The Dominic Kunene-led charges piled more pressure but the opponents kept their back door shut. Mpendulo Thomo almost came close to levelling matters in the 80th minute after he was set for goal by Siphosethu Mabilisa.He volleyed the ball over the bar when the easiest option was to pass the net with the goal-keeper advancing.

Innocent Ndzinisa thought he had converted a free-kick but Lesotho goalkeeper Jessy Motsie parried the ball for a fruitless corner in the 83rd minute.
The home side were attacking in droves in the last minutes and they could have found the equaliser with five minutes to spare but Lungelo Dlamini saw his powerful shot miss the target by inches.

It was near yet so far for the Dominic Kunene-led charges as in the end they suffered a 1-0 loss to average opponents.
In another Under-17 friendly game, the Gcina Dlamini-led side lost 2-1 yesterday and 2-0 on Saturday.

Kunene said he was happy with his charges as they played well but failed to convert the chances that they created.
“I am impressed with my boys, yesterday (Saturday) we played to a 1-all draw and today (yesterday) we lost. We could have won but missed a number of chances. The result was not a concern but it was the performance that we were mostly particular about,” Kunene said. He said he was positive that by December during the Under-20 COSAFA he would have found a winning combination.

Meanwhile, Lesotho coach Bob Mafoso said they were happy about the performance and were looking to having more friendly games for the youth team.