Warriors win all-NFD clash

A late penalty from Josef Lekata saw African Warriors defeated fellow NFD side Milano United 1-0 at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Sunday and book a place in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Nedbank Cup.

Warriors dominated the first half, enjoying a greater share of possession and creating more scoring opportunities, though their final pass and/or shot often left much to be desired.

Vincent Pule gave an early warning of their willingness to shoot on sight, sending a well-struck long range effort just wide of the target in the very first minute of the match.

However, Milano goalkeeper Wensten van der Linde was rarely called into significant action, making only one notable save when he dived low to scoop away a header from Koloko Mokhethi in the 34^th minute.

The visitors started the second half strongly and substitute Auguston Leonard had a good chance to break the deadlock in the 52^nd minute, but he shot just over the crossbar from within the penalty area.

Twenty minutes later former Free State Stars and Black Aces right-back Rudiger Gilbert let fly from long range and saw his shot flash just off target, with Warriors goalkeeper Vusumuzi Magagula scrambling to try and get a hand on it.

On 79 minutes Warriors attacker Josef Lekata got on the end of a good cross from the right by-line and must have thought he was about to score when he placed a header on target, but van der Linde made an excellent reaction save to palm the ball away for a corner kick.

With just seven minutes to play, Juaid Sait tripped Pule in the area with a clumsy late challenge to give away a clear penalty. Lekata took on the responsibility of the spot kick and beat van der Linde to put Warriors ahead.

Milano almost struck back just a couple of minutes after going behind, with Leonard heading over the target from a corner kick that Magagula came off his line to claim but got nowhere near.

African Warriors (0) 1 (Lekata 84’ pen)

Milano United 0

Warriors: Magagula, Marakane, Lebahi, Sithole, Mokhethi, Makume (van Tonder 79’), Pule, Khwela, Mabuya, Lekata, Nxumalo (Myeni 90+3’)

United: van der Linde, Robertson, Hendricks (Qalanto 88’), Sait, Eielies, Gilbert (M. Jacobs 75’), Flandorp (Leonard 46’), Stellenboom, Motha, Stoffels, Fikru

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