In their Limpopo Dairy League match at the Gogobole grounds on Sunday, the junior team of Benny's Care kept their title hopes alive by beating Gogobole Home Defenders 3-0.
Defenders played entertaining football from behind throughout the game, but their strikers fumbled at the goal finish. It took the Defenders nine minutes to realize that it was not their day. Their front runner, Thabelo Tharini, could not live up to his reputation as a natural striker, because he was tightly marked by Gift Khangale.
The visitors gained momentum as the game progressed. They were awarded a free kick in the 24th minute. Thokhozani Mzimande was obstructed within the box and the referee, Mr Mpfariseni Musekwa, awarded a free kick. The team's captain, Papi Mongalo, took it upon himself to take the free kick and hit the back of the net.
The goal did not demoralize Defenders as they continued to play like a united team, creating some promising moves from the middle of the park. Benny's increased the margin in the 39th minute. This after Defenders started to set offside-traps. Killer Maake beat the offside-trap and sent the Defenders keeper, Tshonisani Mulaudzi, the wrong way. The score was 2-0 when the referee blew the half-time whistle.
Benny's replaced the injured Mulalo Tahulela with Sandani Hulisani. Although Defenders also effected three changes to their starting line-up late in the game, that was not good enough to stop Benny's from scoring their third goal. A substitute, Vonani Macheke, scored the third with a header, following a corner kick that was taken by Hlaula Maringa.