Vasco on the board

Bloemfontein - Vasco da Gama registered their first ever point in the Absa Premiership courtesy of a 1-1 draw away to Free State Stars at the Botshabelo Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The two goals came within six minutes of each other early in the second half as Sibusiso Zuma cancelled out Kennedy Mweene's penalty. Stars were the dominant side in the first half as far as attacking was concerned, outweighing Vasco heavily with the number of shots on goal and corner kicks they received. Vasco may have had an early chance through Zuma, but it was soon Ea Lla Koto who were calling the shots in front of goal. Visiting keeper Posnett Omony was kept busy as he had to save from Noah Chivuta's sixth minute free kicks and subsequent shots from range by Paulos Masehe and Ayanda Gcaba Debutant Chivuta was again involved in the 16th minute, picking out Aleni Lebyane with a cross, but the latter was unable to force Omony into a save with a close range header. Lebogang Mothibantwa tried to make things happen for the Cape side around the 26 minute mark, but was unable to profit from a long range shot which was saved by Mweene, and then saw his 12-yard effort blocked by a Stars defender. The hosts though were soon back in attacking mode as Rudiger Gilbert's 25-yard effort was tipped round the post by Omony and then Lebyane again missed with a header from around the six-yard box. Chivuta then fired wide with a free kick eight minutes before the half time whistle as the Free State side maintained ascendancy in attack. Vasco had the first chance of the first half, a decent effort in the 46th minute as Aiden Jenniker picked out Rudi Isaacs, but his header was saved by Mweene. The Botshabelo crowd finally had reason to celebrate in the when skipper Mweene converted from the spot in the 51st minute after Omony had brought down Madoda Motha But the Cape side quickly restored parity when Zuma netted his second goal of the campaign, lobbing Mweene from close range in the 58th minute. The home team soon created chances to regain the lead, but Motha went wide with a close range header in the 69th minute and then Kingston Nkhatha was denied by Omony just a minute later. Zuma though had ideas of his own as he searched out his brace, but it was not to be in the 76th minute when his shot from the edge of the area was saved by Mweene. Stars though could well have sealed the win if Motha had not been wasteful in front of goal, the former Aces striker shooting wide of goal in the 80th minute and then doing likewise with a header in the final minute of regulation time.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/PSL/Vasco-on-the-board-20100918