Aces beaten at home
Moroka Swallows Football Club Academy narrowly beat Mpumalanga Black Aces Football Academy U/15 3-2 at the Greek Sports Grounds on Saturday last week.
The game reached half time with Swallows leading 2-1.
Jacob Nhlapho scored the first Swallows goal and Isaac Kuanakga scored the second one.
Aces came back when Bindu Makhesha sent a cross in from the left to find Prince Shabela, who scored with a super header.
Aces came back after half time firing on all cylinders. Just a few minutes into the second half, Adam Levin scored the equalising goal for Aces.
Aces was caught while still celebrating their recent goal, when Swallows’ Phumlani Mkhize scored the last goal of the game, just minutes after Adam’s goal.
Swallows’ coach, Kabelo Kabai, said he was happy with his team’s performance, although they missed many chances.
“It was a well-balanced game. We were supposed to score more than four goals, but we were able to score three of those. Wind also affected our finishing,” he said.
He added that his team became complacence when leading 2-1.
“They lost focus and I had to redirect them back to the game. Our game plan was to hold the ball, play carpet football and catch them on the counter. It played out as most of our goals came that way. At the beginning of the first half they were too relaxed and they equalised,” said Kabai.
Aces’ coach, Nichola Bamboulis, said his team missed too many chances.
“We had lots of clear chances, but failed to convert them to goals. Swallows had four chances and scored three goals to win the game. I told my lads that if they wanted to win the game they had to score goals. They also had to fight for a win,” said Bamboulis.
Aces won all the other matches of the day:
Aces U/13 beat Swallows 4-1.
Aces U/17 won 1-0.
In the last game of the day, Aces U/19 beat Swallows 2-1.
