By Carlos
Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – African Stars’ stylish attacking midfielder Asprilla Wermann came off the substitutes’ bench to hand his team a hard-fought 3-1 win in the top of the table clash against title rivals FNB Orlando Pirates in the MTC Premiership at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, last night.
The tie certainly lived up to its top-billing tag with both teams playing frequent visits to each other’s territory but it was the log leaders who enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession and territorial advantage in the opening stages of an otherwise entertaining match.
Guti Korujuve missed a sitter after he was teed up by a cleverly weighted pass from fullback Treasurer Kauapirura but the usually deadly finisher lifted the ball over the advancing Ghosts’ shot-stopper Charles Uirab with the goal at his mercy – much to the amazement of his teammates.
The Ghosts broke the deadlocked very much against the run of play via a well orchestrated quick counterattack on the half hour mark. Enterprising winger Marcello Haraseb skinned Kauapirura on the flank before delivering an inviting low cross onto the path of the unmarked Nicky Musambani.
The leagues’ leading goal scorer easily tapped the stray ball home from close range past the stranded Athiel Mbaha in Stars’ goal. The goal inspired the Buccaneers, who stepped up a gear wrestling momentum from their clearly restless opponents.
Despite prodigal son Robert Nganjone bossing proceedings in the middle of the park, his co-midfielders failed to come to the show leaving huge gaps for the Ghosts to exploit space and dictate the terms.
Stars defender Ferdinand Karongee was very lucky to stay on the pitch after an off the ball clumsy challenge on an opponent five minutes before the break.
After a thorough tongue-lashing from gaffer Woody Jacobs during the break, Stars had to rely heavily on their reserve tank for divine intervention when veteran centreback Pat-Nevin Uanivi found the back of the net for the elusive equaliser.
Wermann added the second to stretch Stars’ lead before overlapping fullback Kauapirura put the final nail the Ghosts coffin with goal number three. Final score: Stars 3-1 Pirates.
Tigers and United Stars cancelled each other out in a 1-all draw that saw the hosts fluff countless goal-scoring opportunities that freely fell their way.
The visitors’ leading goal-scorer Alpheus Ngwezi gifted his team a shock lead from a highly disputed first half penalty kick before Kennedy Amutenya brought the teams on level terms for a share of the spoils. Rebels beat Julinho 2-0 while Tura Magic and Mighty Gunners could only fashion out a draw in a four-goal thriller.
On Saturday, Bobby Samaria’s resurgent Tigers kept their title aspirations very much alive with another impressive display – courtesy of a humiliating 6-0 win over a hapless Julinho in a one-sided match.
The goal-scoring jamboree saw Kaka Nekundi helping himself to a brace with Benjamin Nekwavu responding in similar fashion. Benza Meya and Phil Nambele were not to be outdone either as the pair also registered their names on the score sheet with a goal apiece to complete the riot.
Current MTC Premiership top goal scorer Nicky Musambani extended his goal tally to 12 strikes just past the halfway stage of the season – leaving fellow strikers green with envy as the race for the coveted NPL Golden Boot award intensifies.
The lethal goal poacher netted a first half brace to give Pirates a morale boosting 2-1 win prior to their highly potential league title decider against runway log leaders Stars in yesterday’s late kick off.
The Ghosts defeated a stubborn Tura Magic outfit 2-1 in a closely contested encounter that saw Brian Itamuna pulling a goal back for Times Tjongarero’s youthful brigade.
A goal apiece via the obedient shooting boots of Joslyn Kamatuka, Ninja Karongee and Riaan Cloete’s spot kick propelled title-chasing Stars to a comprehensive 3-0 triumph over visiting Mighty Gunners. The victory consolidated the Reds’ position at the summit.
United recorded a rare win on the road as the Rundu outfit casually jogged past Rebels through a solitary strike by the ever-present Ngwezi, claiming his second goal of the weekend.