Chris Theko
February 28, 2022
MASERU-Swallows clinched their first win of the second round to boost their chances of surviving the chop from the Vodacom Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Likhopo on Sunday at Nyakoso.
The win saw the relegation threatened Mazenod-based outfit remain on 15th position with 13 points. They have only managed to close in on Likhopo which is sitting a spot above them with 17 points.
The home side scored two early goals with Katleho Lekaka opening the scoreboard two minutes into the game while former Likhopo striker Toka Mokhalinyane also registered a goal against his former club to hand his current club their third victory in 23 games.
The relegation threated teams’ tie was exciting with both teams showing intent to win the game with an end-to-end game. The tie went to the break with Swallows in the lead.
When it returned the action was still packed like the two sides never left the pitch. The two sides were also at each other’s throats for most of the second half with Likhopo the ones whose efforts paid off with a 63rd minute Thabang Mari strike.
This was Swallows’ second game under the mentorship of former Likuena defender Teele Ntšonyana is also the former Liphakoe.
In other fixtures of the weekend Lioli got one foot into the top-4 after a 1-0 victory over CCX at the Agricultural College Leribe ground on Saturday.
Meanwhile, on the same day, at Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) ground Lijabatho thumped 12th placed Liphakoe 3-0 with third-placed LCS walloping bottom-of-the-table Sefotha-fotha by 7-0 at Ratjomose ground and LDF rounded up the Saturday fixtures with a 2-0 away win to Manonyane at Nyakosoba.
In other fixtures on Sunday VPL leaders Matlama were also in action and cruised to a comfortable 3-1 victory over LMPS at Ratjomose ground. In form attacking midfielder, Jane Thabantšo scored a brace while Makume Theletsane was at hand to get his fifth goal of the season.
Matlama leads the table with 59 points after 23 games and have technically locked their grasp onto the 11th Vodacom Premier League title.
In other news, second-placed and defending champions Bantu were lucky to manage a 2-all draw having come from 0-2 down against Kick4Life. The Mafeteng side were saved by substitute Hlompho Kalake who managed to cancel out Kick4Life’s Realeboha Ralankoane’s two goals with his own brace.
Linare welcomed Lifofane at the Maputsoe DiFA stadium in a tie that ended in a 2-all draw and points shared.
