United Stars runs riot on a stubborn Akeric
A halftime pep talk and constant touchline instructions from coach Eric Paul rejuvenated Akeric Football Institution to play a second half with purpose but it was too late.
United Stars secured a second victory in the second round of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association’s Promotional League when it ran riot on a stubborn Akeric Football Institution by hammering it 5-2.
This was at the league match played at the Number 3 Square Ground on April 6 in which the league’s leading goal scorer Njabulo Shabalala of Stars and his teammate Thabo Mangoaela got a brace each while the other goal came from Kabelo Rakosa to maintain the team’s lead on the summit of the table.
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The Akeric side weren’t pushovers as they replied to the avalanche of five goals with their own two goals from a brace by Nduduzo Mchunu, which came in the second half of the game as the side seemed rejuvenated by the two quick goals.
Stars dominated the entire first half of the game, with Shabalala coming close to scoring just a couple of minutes after the referee blew for the commencement of the match when his powerful grass-cutter slid past the upright with inches.
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Stars skipper Nhlanhla Makgopa volunteered to take a free kick awarded to the side, by the referee after some foul play close to the edge of the18-area, and pumped a curler that found Akeric keeper William Joster up to the task and clutched to the ball.
Shabalala came close to registering his name and that of his team first on the scoreboard when the Akeric keeper spilled the ball and Shabalala latched to it but instead ballooned his effort with the goals begging.
Another missed chance for the Stars came from Makgonsoane Mothapo, who failed to aim his strike and hit the side netting instead. With the halftime fast approaching, Stars’ Mangoaela finally found the back with a powerful close-range shot.
As if that solitary goal was not enough to take to halftime, Mangoaela got his brace and soon after, his teammate Rakosa added a third goal to no reply from Akeric at the stroke of halftime.
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The second stanza became an opportunity for Akeric to post their first goal of the match when Mchunu bagged a goal into the back of the net to make it 3-1. This goal breathed a new rejuvenation, especially after a pep talk from club founder cum-coach Eric Paul who furiously shouted instructions from the touchline for the entire game.
With renewed confidence, Akeric started to exploit gaps within the Stars side and it was not long before Mchunu got his brace to make it 3-2. Stars were awarded a penalty after one of its players was roughed up in the box and Shabalala converted.
Shabalala managed to sneak the ball past a hapless Akeric keeper Joster to attain his brace from some confusion that reigned supreme in the box to hammer the final nail in the Akeric coffin before being substituted.
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