The week that was - Lesotho Premier League

LDF

LDF kept their noses in front in the Lesotho Premier League title race with a thrilling 3-2 win over LMPS on Sunday. Sohle-Sohle now have 48 points, three more than LCS and Bantu in the pursuit of the championship. Sunday’s match at Ratjomose was an entertaining see-saw battle which saw LDF having to twice come from behind against a stubborn Simunye before Molefe Lekoekoe conjured a second half winner.

LDF’s crucial victory came 24 hours after LCS had briefly gone top thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 win over Swallows, a result that consigned Swallows to relegation and ending the Mazenod side’s ten-year stay in the top-flight.

Maswai-swai however made Masheshena sweat and it took two very late goals from Lawrence Molengoane and Thabane Rankara to give LCS all three points.

Mafeteng’s Bantu also kept in touch on Saturday with an impressive 2-1 away to surprise package Maduma in Khukhune. A Matšo Matebele have played a game more than both LDF and LCS but at least they are still in with a chance of lifting the title which is more than what can be said for Linare whose faint title hopes were ended by a 1-1 draw with Lioli yesterday.

The draw in Hlotse was a culmination of a poor run of form by Tse Tala over the past month or so, a period in which Linare have picked up just two points from four games.

First was a 2-1 loss at home to Bantu followed by a disappointing goalless draw, also at home, with LCS where Refiloe Potse missed a last minute penalty. A lazy 2-1 loss to Matlama two weeks ago then followed and now yesterday’s draw with Lioli means Tse Tala can only reach 47 points even if they win their remaining two matches.

At the other end of the table Joy and Likhopo both moved a step closer to securing their premiership status with 1-1 draws away from home. Likhopo drew with already relegated Mabeoana in Matsieng while Leribe’s Joy held outgoing champions Matlama in Maseru. It is therefore increasingly likely Lerotholi and Mphatlalatsane will join Swallows and Mabeoana on the road to the first division.

The race for the title however is naturally where most eyes are fixed and another telling chapter will be written on Wednesday evening when LDF face Likhopo at the Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.

After the match with Likhopo the army side will be left with a trip to Linare before closing the season with Maduma and LCS at home. LCS meanwhile next face LMPS and Joy at home before away games against Matlama and LDF while Bantu still have energy-sapping ties against foes Matlama and Lioli in the run-in.

It’s looking more and more likely that when LDF and LCS meet at Ratjomose on the season’s final day on May 29 it will decide which side is crowned league champions.

The week that was

Wednesday (May 4) - LMPS 0-0 Likhopo

Saturday (May 7) - LCS 2-0 Swallows, Maduma 1-2 Bantu

Sunday (May 8) - Mabeoana 1-1 Likhopo, Matlama 1-1 Joy, LDF 3-2 LMPS, Linare 1-1 Lioli

Vodacom Premier League

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	LDF	22	14	6	2	34	16	18	48
2	LCS	22	12	9	1	36	14	22	45
3	Bantu	23	13	6	4	32	19	13	45
4	Linare	24	11	8	5	31	21	10	41
5	LMPS	23	9	8	6	31	23	8	35
6	Matlama	23	8	10	5	21	15	6	34
7	Maduma	23	9	7	7	30	30	0	34
8	Lioli	21	6	8	7	20	18	2	26
9	Joy	22	6	8	8	20	21	-1	26
10	Likhopo	20	6	7	7	20	24	-4	25
11	Lerotholi	23	5	5	13	15	31	-16	20
12	Mphatlalatsane	22	2	11	9	23	32	-9	17
13	Swallows	23	2	7	14	13	34	-21	13
14	Mabeoana	23	1	6	16	11	39	-28	9