League

Athlone
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5500, Seating: 1900, VIP seats: 100) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Mawetu Nomvete made the kick off which started today's match. Terence Mufadi kicked well hit freekick during the 4th minute of the match. Mawetu Nomvete sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 15th minute, Mawetu Nomvete ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Hlamane Mandela was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Nicholas Magakula had great luck who in the 18thth minute grab hold of the ball when Basil Okpara from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. Mthunzi Shoba hit a great freekick 19 minutes into the match. 22 minutes into the game, Basil Okpara cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Nicholas Magakula was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Nicholas Magakula made a fantastic save in the 27th minute, when Basil Okpara sent off a good shot on target. Santos FC Cape Town's Harry Mayoyo got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Basil Okpara recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 36th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 38 minutes into the match, Silver Stars's goalkeeper Nicholas Magakula had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Basil Okpara. Basil Okpara's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Nicholas Magakula read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 42nd minute of play. If Mawetu Nomvete had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Basil Okpara was the one to do the kick off. In the 61stth minute of the game Mawetu Nomvete who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Santos FC Cape Town's Hlamane Mandela was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Jakob Okpara's late challenge caught a Santos FC Cape Town's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jakob Okpara helped the player get up and apologised. In the 64th match minute, Silver Stars was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jakob Okpara to maneuver through the defense. When the match had gone on for 69 minutes, Basil Okpara put it in 2-1 from a short distance just to the right of Nicholas Magakula. Mawetu Nomvete received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Hlamane Mandela tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 77th minute Harry Mayoyo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nicholas Magakula saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nicholas Magakula took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Basil Okpara, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mawetu Nomvete's late challenge caught a Santos FC Cape Town's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mawetu Nomvete helped the player get up and apologised. In the 88th match minute, Silver Stars was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mawetu Nomvete to maneuver through the defense. Silver Stars's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.