Lioli miss chance to go top

The chance was there, begging to be taken, and Lioli let it slip through their fingers.

Tse Nala may live to regret their profligacy in the final reckoning; with less than a month to go before the season concludes, the scope for error is decreasing by the day.

Lioli had been given the chance to go top of the Vodacom Premier League after Bantu lost 1-0 to LDF on Saturday. Naturally, the expectation in Berea was Lioli would regain the lead Bantu stole from them in January. However, in the end Tse Nala had to rely on two late Tšoanelo Koetle free-kicks to salvage a 2-2 draw at the Setsoto Stadium.

The result means Lioli and Bantu are equal on points atop the log. Crucially, though, Bantu have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

Will Lioli be kissing the trophy come season's end?

The duo’s respective results were also a reminder of how tricky Bantu’s run-in is and how Lioli’s faltering form makes their easier looking fixtures no guarantee.

Bantu have a daunting list of games to play including LCS, Linare and Matlama in their final four matches. Lioli conversely are left with Joy, Mpharane Celtic and Nyenye Rovers. Both teams, however, are feeling the end of season heat. Bantu have registered two draws and a defeat in their last three games while Tse Nala are on a four-match winless run. It’s tough out there.

Bantu’s loss to LDF was their first in all competitions since September 29 when A Matšo Matebele lost 4-3 to Joy. In that time Bantu have won the Independence Cup and embarked on a run of form that’s placed the destiny of the championship in their hands.

Bantu face a tough final sprint, though, and LDF was the first speed hump on what could be a bumpy road.

LDF is always a testy opponent and they made sure to spoil Bantu’s mood with a typically hard-nosed 1-0 win. The win somewhat rekindles LDF’s faint hopes of a title. Sohle-Sohle have 31 points, six behind the top two, with a game in hand on Bantu and two on Lioli. Still, the Premiership heading to Ratjomose remains a long shot.

The bigger storyline was Bantu slipping up and presenting their rivals an opening. But Lioli were unable to take advantage and they can only hope for more favours.

Credit to Likhopo, though. They went into yesterday’s encounter with Lioli on the back of a three-game winning streak and their point they are sixth, only a point behind fourth-placed LCS. Likhopo are finishing strong and could claim a fairly unexpected top four spot given a mid-season wobble which included a four-match losing run.

The other attention-grabbing result of the weekend was Matlama’s 1-0 win over LMPS which moves Tse Putsoa out of the relegation zone. Matlama have a bagful of games in hand on their relegation foes due to a recent suspension. After their usual Matlama shenanigans things are suddenly looking rather rosier – three games undefeated can do that.

Mpharane Celtic, whose match against Joy was called off due to rain, dropped into the relegation spots joining Leribe neighbours Nyenye Rovers who remain at the bottom of the league.

The real drama, however, is at the other end of the table where Bantu and Lioli are clearly feeling the pressure in the race for Lesotho football’s most coveted prize.

Results

Saturday, 20 April

LDF 1-0 Bantu

LCS 0-0 Qoaling Highlanders

Sunday, 21 April

Matlama 1-0 LMPS

Likhopo 2-2 Lioli

(Linare v Nyenye Rovers and Joy v Mpharane Celtic postponed due to rain)

Vodacom Premier League

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Bantu	18	11	4	3	32	16	16	37
2	Lioli	19	10	7	2	23	10	13	37
3	LDF	17	8	7	2	22	11	11	31
4	LCS	17	6	7	4	13	11	2	25
5	LMPS	19	7	4	8	13	13	0	25
6	Likhopo	18	7	3	8	18	18	0	24
7	Linare	17	5	6	6	18	14	4	21
8	Joy	15	4	5	6	19	24	-5	17
9	Qoaling Highlanders	18	4	5	9	14	23	-8	17
10	Matlama	13	4	3	6	13	16	-3	15
11	Mpharane Celtic	18	3	6	9	24	42	-18	14
12	Nyenye Rovers	17	1	9	8	10	22	-12	12