Cosmos stuck at the bottom

2007-12-22 18:13

Witbank - Jomo Cosmos showed just why they are at the bottom of the Absa Premiership table after another insipid performance.

The hosts lost 2-1 to Thanda Royal Zulu at the Ackerville Stadium in Witbank on Saturday and will remain at the bottom of the log until the season kicks off again in February.

Ryan Botha opened the scoring in the 59th minute but on the hour mark Geofrey Massa got the equaliser for Cosmos. Bernard Parker, who set Botha up for the first goal, headed home to give his team a valuable three points.

Both sides lacked creativity although Thanda looked a bit better in attack.

They pinned Cosmos in their own half for the better part of the first half and could have been a goal up had the finishing not been so poor.

Botha shot straight at Avril Phali when he could have picked his spot and Parker also shot wide. Serge Djiehoua tried his luck from long range but his shots never troubled Phali.

At the other end Massa ran on to a through-ball but Lance Niewenhuis, unlike his flat-footed backline, was alert to the danger and stopped him from scoring.

Niewenhuis did little but when he had to act he did so with aplomb. In the dying minutes of the half he tipped a scorcher from Dikgang Mabalane over the bar.

Parker set Botha up for the opening goal with a defence-splitting pass. The industrious midfielder drew two Cosmos players to him before coolly passing the ball to Botha who made no mistake with a left-footed bullet.

Thanda's joy was short-lived as a minute later unmarked Massa placed his shot beyond the stranded keeper.

Play went back and forth and players committed silly errors and it seemed the game would end at 1-1.

Nevertheless, Thanda kept pressing and Clement Mazibuko's corner was forcefully headed home by Parker.

Thanda are now 13th with 16 points while Cosmos languish at the bottom with 13.

- SAPA