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Cosmos see Stars- again
31/03/2007 22:09 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Jomo Cosmos' constellation of fading footballers will be having nightmares about seeing Silver Stars after a third successive defeat against the recent Knockout Cup winners in the Premier League game at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg on Saturday afternoon.
What is more, the final 3-1 scoreline flattered Jomo Sono's team, if anything, with Cosmos only scoring a consolation goal in the 90th minute from Dikgang "The Terminator" Mabelane when the diligent, hard-working and opportunist Stars appeared to momentarily lose concentration.
Stars' co-ordinated, disciplined display was only marred by the news that Joel Lupahla broke his leg in two places after being brought down in the ninth minute by a crude, two-footed tackle by Cosmos goalkeeper Abisai Shiningayamwe.
Play in the relatively empty, ghostly stadium, which has been earmarked as a 2010 World Cup venue and holds more than 40 000 spectators, was held up for eight minutes while Lupahla received medical attention - before an ambulance arrived on the pitch to take the stricken player to hospital.
Cosmos' woes were intensified by the 58th minute sending off of the combative Sydney Plaatjies, who elbowed an opponent for no apparent good reason in an off-the-ball incident.
Defence appeared lethargic
Stars were leading 1-0 at the time through a lethal 27th minute ground shot from Dale Studzinski and proceeded to cruise home against he increasingly lacklustre, 10-man opposition.
Cosmos' defence appeared lethargic and dispirited as Dingane Masanabo (63rd minute) and Koketso Mmotong (76th minute) demonstrated a fine sense of enterprise while outwitting Shiningayamwe, with the Cosmos' goalkeeper hopelessly out-of-position for Stars' second and third goals.
Stars, who earlier in the season headed the PSL log for a lengthy period before going through an apparent reaction to winning the Telkom competition, leapfrogged back into a challenging position for the runners-up spot in the log after their morale-boosting return to form.
And had thunderous shots from a Willem Jackson free-kick in the 22nd minute and Mmotong in the 29th minute not thudded against the woodwork, their victory margin would have been more emphatic.
- SAPA
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