19 Dec 2022

Jwaneng Galaxy on Sunday afternoon displayed second half heroics to claw their way back from the jaws of defeat, drawing 2-2 with a Township Rollers side that had looked like running rampant earlier on.

Rollers surged to a 2-0 first half lead through goals from Bame Morwalela and Mogakolodi ‘Tsotso’ Ngele.

A third goal was ruled out on the stroke of half time, only to end the game on the back foot as Galaxy threatened to run rampant after Wendell Rudath and Gilbert Baruti restored parity.

Rollers alias Popa seemed to have had their tactical approach spot on earlier, closing down attacking gaps with their off the ball movements and cleverly finding space in attacking channels when on the ball.

But it was Galaxy who came close early on. Rudath broke clear on goal in the seventh minute, only for Rollers left back Onkarabile ‘Lefty’ Ratanang to rush back to shield the ball away from the Galaxy forward, allowing Kabelo Maphakela in the Popa goal to easily collect.

But Rollers soon after struck the first blow. Ngele floated in a corner kick from the right locating Morwalela who headed in to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

The impressive Rudath posed a threat in the 21st minute, his long range strike being parried wide by Maphakela before the Rollers rearguard cleared their lines.

Rollers continued to seek attacking pockets of space from the wide areas and won a free kick close to the right corner kick spot.

Ngele then scored a brilliant goal from there, close to where he had assisted Morwalela with the first goal- his direct free kick from the wide right flying in straight onto the far post net to make it 2-0 to Rollers.

Morwalela found the back of the net again in the 45th minute, but it was ruled out for offside as Rollers continued to dominate and headed to half time two goals to the good.
After the recess, Galaxy head coach, Morena Ramoreboli, rang the changes.

He made a double substitution, pulling out striker Thabang Sesinyi and attacking midfielder Mpho Kgomo replacing them with Daniel Msedami and Gaamangwe Sethibe.

Early into the second half Galaxy stepped up their attacking play and won a 51st minute penalty converted by Rudath to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Galaxy’s effervescent Namibian international, Marcel Papama, was now in control of the midfield and the visitors posed a threat particularly on the wings, with fullbacks Kitso ‘Benson’ Mangolo and Moagi Sechele adding numbers on the overlap.

A low shot by Sechele in the 68th minute produced a save from Maphakela, but a minute later Galaxy got their deserved equaliser.

Their pressure bore fruit in the 69th minute when Baruti struck from close range to take the contest to 2-2.

That set up a thrilling final 20 minutes as the two sides chased the equaliser.

In the 86th minute, Galaxy came close to finding the winner, with numbers in the box, only for young goal minder Maphakela to make a crucial double save to keep the point for Rollers.

The result means Galaxy, who remain unbeaten and drew for only the second time this season, stay second on the log on 20 points, two behind early season pacesetters, Gaborone United who are top on 22 points.

Rollers are fifth with 15 points after four wins, three draws and a single loss from their first eight games.