… BA overcome Cuca Tops
By Otniel Hembapu
WINDHOEK – Two well-taken free kicks from Freedom Puriza and Meraai Swartbooi saw defending champions African Stars scrape a 2-1 victory over Eleven Arrows, while Willy Stephanus was on target in Black Africa’s 2-1 win over Cuca Tops FC, results which ensured the two rivals’ smooth passage into round 16 of the Bidvest Namibia Cup played on Saturday.
Stars, who rested most of their top players over the weekend, kicked off their defence campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over coastal outfit Arrows in one of the fixtures of the last 32 of the FA Cup at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday, after taking the lead in the opening half through a well-engineered free kick by enterprising defender Freedom Puriza.
But despite the one goal deficit, Arrows kept their fighting spirit high as they closed in with a few decent onslaughts which soon paid off when striker Sheya Andima scrambled in a goal from a wobbling ball to level the score sheet. Stars 1-1 Arrows.
With Stars lacking to demonstrate that killer instinct and also failing to convert a few decent chances in front of goal, Arrows managed to keep Stars on their toes and mostly dictated the pace of the match although that much needed goal eluded them many a time.
The second half also continued in the same fashion as the opening half, with both teams missing a few chances as Arrows hit the woodwork on no less than three occasions. But it was substitute Meraai Swartbooi who was the hero of the day when his last-minute well-taken free kick granted Stars a 2-1 victory over Arrows and subsequently propelled them to the last 16, where they now face Orlando Pirates next Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Black Africa also booked their place in the next round of the competition with a 2-1 victory over Cuca Tops. BA drew first blood when Willy Stephanus scored from a free kick before Tjiurikouye Juua equalised for Tops to level the score just before half time.
Stephanus was again back in the thick of things when he beat an offside trap before rounding off the oncoming goalkeeper to complete his brace. Final score: BA 2-1 Cuca Tops.
BA will now face Erongo second division side Blue Birds in the next round.
In the first match of the tripple-header at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, Karas Region’s Mountain Rangers took on fellow second division outfit Bush Bucks from the Zambezi Region in a match that saw former Tigers and Hotspurs midfielder Edward Fadiga Asino put Rangers ahead in the first half before Ashley Jossop extended their lead. Granlin Mouton was also on target for Rangers and took their lead to 3-0 heading to halftime.
In the second half, the Bucks took the game to Rangers and were duly rewarded as they got one back through Newman Mavuna and moments later it was 3-2 as Moses Matomola headed home. However, Rangers had more in their tank as substitute Mervin Fredericks scored their fourth goal before Jossop completed his hat trick when he added another two to ensure a 6-2 victory for Rangers, who now take on Rundu Chiefs next weekend in the last 16. – Additional reporting: nfa.org.na