League

Hopwood
Spectators: 8458 (Terracing: 6344, Seating: 1945, VIP seats: 169) FC Hopwood's Ivan Webb started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. When Grasshoppers FC's Jonas Manyethela in the 6th minute got a chance for a shot 6th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye FC Hopwood's goalie prevented a goal. Milton Thwala's late challenge caught a FC Hopwood's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Milton Thwala helped the player get up and apologised. Milton Thwala kicked well hit freekick during the 7th minute of the match. Ivan Webb received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Nkosi Machete tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Grasshoppers FC getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Kenny Mangope hit a great ball. Nkosi Machete was a little too slow when Ivan Webb got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 11th minute. The score was now 1-0. Lazarus Lekgwathi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 25th minute, Elias Tshabalala ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Brandon Nunes was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. Lindo Thabang sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Lazarus Lekgwathi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Nkosi Machete tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 32nd minute Ivan Webb shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nkosi Machete saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jonas Manyethela scored 1-2 in the 36th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Brandon Nunes, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. FC Hopwood's Brandon Nunes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Elias Tshabalala in the 40th minute of play. If Elias Tshabalala had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in FC Hopwood's zone, Elias Tshabalala stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Brandon Nunes came out of the goal and Elias Tshabalala tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After having played for 48 minutes, Elias Tshabalala managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Grasshoppers FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Elias Tshabalala was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After the first half Grasshoppers FC were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Jonas Manyethela to strike the kick off in the second half. Johannes Smith struck a weak shot in the 52nd minute. Brandon Nunes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Grasshoppers FC. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jonas Manyethela in the 57th minute of play forced FC Hopwood's goalkeeper Brandon Nunes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jonas Manyethela received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Brandon Nunes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 64 minutes into the game, Maxwell Nhlapo was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FC Hopwood's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Grasshoppers FC the free kick. Brandon Nunes was out of position in the 69 minute of play, and Elias Tshabalala capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Elias Tshabalala really showed his touch with that goal: 1-4. In the 79th minute, Kenny Mangope hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Brandon Nunes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jonas Manyethela in the 85th minute of play. After 87 minutes, Elias Tshabalala mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Grasshoppers FC and the FC Hopwood players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Grasshoppers FC getting a freekick after 87 minutes play. Elias Tshabalala hit a great ball. In the 88th minute, Ivan Webb made a precise shot to the right of Nkosi Machete. Grasshoppers FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-4. Elias Tshabalala's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 94thth minute, Brandon Nunes skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Through an outstanding action, after 95 minutes, Brandon Nunes successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. After 96 played minutes FC Hopwood got a freekick which was hit by Jonas Pretorius. Grasshoppers FC played a much better game than FC Hopwood and deserved their victory. The FC Hopwood players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.