Highlands Park players celebrate the winning goal just before the final whistle. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
With Highlands Park Football Club’s men’s and women’s teams doing so well, it is little surprise to find the juniors also on the up.
The senior men’s team earned promotion to the Premier Soccer League and the women’s side recently won their cup.
Ryan Raviv of Highlands Park holds off Adin Pillay of Northerns while he looks to cross the ball into the box. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
Whether following in their lead or becoming masters of their own fates, the juniors U9B team has reached the round of 16 in the Easterns League Cup after a hard-fought second-round victory against the Northerns Football Club.
It was during a well-attended home match on 23 June that the Highlands Park youngsters met their match in defence in the visiting Kyalami team.
Possession was more or less equal throughout the game and the first half saw great attacking runs, as well as pin-point long balls, from both sides.
The score was 1–1 at the break after Highlands Park scored a great team goal and Northerns responded with an even better long-range effort.
Kananelo Makoanyane of Northerns tries to keep possession as Adam Treger of Highlands Park tries to get the ball. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
The second-half was also close but Northerns squandered a few opportunities in the box before Highlands Park scored the winner.
Through a great run down the right side, and then clever passing into the middle, Highlands Park were able to shoot, then shoot again off the keeper’s rebound to another player, and score an excellent team goal not two minutes before the final whistle blew.
Jessica de Fries of Highlands Park looks to get around Cameron Gerasimo of Northerns, to make a tackle. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
Players congregated in the middle of the pitch to celebrate with high-fives and hugs before shaking the hands of their opponents in thanks of the great game.
Winning coach Timo Thy said, “Our determination to never give up, as well as keeping team shape, gave us the edge.
“We will work on our defence before the round of 16 matches.”
Adin Pillay of Northerns is too late to stop Sifiso Sibisi of Highlands Park launching his shot at goal. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
Northerns coach, Isaac Mabotsa said his team did not play badly. “We just didn’t use the chances we had while Highlands Park had one or two chances and they took it.
“We practise the one-on-ones against the keeper in practice all the time but sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”
