Mosimane earns point in first game

Despite Eleazar Rodgers scoring his first Absa Premiership goal of the season in Pitso Mosimane’s first game in charge, an own goal from Tobogo Langerman saw Mamelodi Sundowns play to a 1-1 draw against Free State Stars at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Wednesday night.

The match started under gloomy weather editions, but Stars made the best of it with the first chance on goal as early as the second minute.

Moeketsi Mvula drove into the box on the right side which saw Wayne Sadnilands come off his goal-line. The Ea Lla Koto attacker, though, did well to round him, but was forced wide. Still Mvula tried his luck from an acute angle and saw his effort cleared off the line.

Shortly after that, however, the game was suspended for roughly half an hour due to inclement weather and lightening.

The match, though, did get back underway and it was Stars again who started positively as Dove Wome had an attempt on goal from a tight angle on the right six-yards out, but he saw his effort superbly saved by Sandilands, the keeper using his feet to block the shot.

Sundowns, who seemed mere spectators for the first ten minutes of the game, slowly started to find their feet and began controlling the match.

In the 14th minute an inch perfect through ball from Anthony Laffor saw Teko Modise with just the keeper to beat, but the midfielder squandered the golden opportunity, fluffing his shot wide of the target from only 14-yards out.

Ten minutes later, though, and Eleazar Rodgers made no such mistake as he gave the Brazilians the lead.

Again Laffor was the provider as he drove into the left side of the 18-yard box, drawing the keeper off his line before the Sundowns midfielder poked the ball across the face of goal to an unmarked Rodgers who passed the ball into an empty net from ten-yards out, 1-0.

The game took a bit of a scruffy turn after that as neither team could hold onto the ball for a sustained period of play. Still Stars did create the better of the opportunities in the final 15 minutes of the half.

The Ea Lla Koto were doing all their attacking down the right and again that is where they managed to create a goal scoring chance in the 30th minute.

Dove Wome drove into the right side of the box and tried his luck from a severe angle, but Sandilands was up to the task, diving to his right to make the save.

Stars also had the final say of the half when Mvula made use of the space down the right yet again, but again his shot from a tight angle was well saved by Sandilands.

The second 45 saw the Ea Lla Koto with all the possession, but they were really unable to create decent goal scoring chances.

One of their best efforts on goal came in the 66th minute from a well worked set-piece 25-yards out from goal. Wome sneakily played Anver Esterhuizen through on goal behind the defensive wall, but he wasted his effort by shooting narrowly wide.

In the 73rd minute, though, the home side made their pressure tell as they did manage to find an equaliser through an own goal from Tebogo Langerman.

Stars whipped in a teasing corner and Langerman, unable to hear his keeper’s call, rose above Sandilands and headed the ball into his own net, 1-1.

Neither side could find the winner as the match ended all square which sees ‘Downs remain second from bottom while Stars sit in sixth place.

Free State Stars (0) 1 (Langerman 73’ og)

Teams

Stars: Motsoeneng; Wilter, Cardoso, Ouro-Akoriko, Esterhuizen, Nomandela, Kerspuy, Masehe, Mkhwanazi (Thebekang 88’), Mvula (Berrian 73’), Wome (Chivuta 88’)

Sundowns: Sandilands; Mabaso, Schut, Mwanjale, Langerman, Laffor (Kekana 90’), Sangweni, Shongwe, Modise, Henyekane (Pelembe 58’), Rodgers (Mphela 69’)

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