Maruleng Celtics team that beat Winnerspark 2-0.
By: Refilwe Sebola
A much improved Maruleng Celtics avenged their first-round home defeat with a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Winnerspark at Westfalia ground last Saturday. The ABC Motsepe League rookies who had lost 2-1 at home in Hoedspruit in the first round came into the game full of confidence and zeal to win. They took the game to the host from the first whistle and dominated the midfield with their intricate passing game.
However, they missed clear-cut scoring opportunities in the first half. The halftime score was 0-0.
The game took an interesting turn in the second half as the host came back stronger. They limited their first-half strategy of long balls which was easily thwarted by the visitors and started to play a better passing game. Their new approach which was marshaled by Star midfielder Kgothatso “Shebe” Rakgoale and Siyabonga Hlabisa put the Celtics defense in sixes and sevens.
They created good scoring opportunities but failed to score. The Bellevue-based side was however punished by the visitors who found their first goal via the boot of Seokoma Seretse who scored with a well-educated header. Seretse completed his well-deserved brace with yet another brilliant header from a cross to make the score 2-0.
The victory elevated Maruleng to position four and demoted Winnerspark to position five. Mathematically, the Celtics could still win the league should Mpheni and Vondwe who have been inconsistent in their previous games continue dropping points.
Seokoma Seretse scored a brace against Winnerspark.