OFA beat Kunene NamPol in 7-goal thriller

REHOBOTH, 24 JUN  – Outjo Football Academy (OFA) on Saturday moved nine points clear after defeating Kunene Namibian Police (NamPol) 4-3 in a 7-goal thriller in a top-of-the-table clash of the Kunene Second Division Football League.
The match, played at Outjo Sport Stadium, saw OFA draw first blood in the first minute through Clereance Aibeb.
OFA pushed to extend their lead and their pressing of the game paid off in the 26th minute, with Aibeb scoring his brace to stretch their lead 2-0.
Kunene NamPol hit back immediately in the 28th minute with Frederick Pietersen scoring a beautiful free-kick from outside the area to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Man of the match, Aibeb was not done with his scoring and added the third for OFA in the 44th and bagged a hat trick for himself in the process.
The halftime score was 3-1 in favour of OFA.
Kunene NamPol received a penalty for a foul inside the box on 56 minutes and Pietersen stepped up to score his brace for the second goal for his team’s second as well, to put the score at 3-2.
With the game past the hour mark, NamPol toiled for an equaliser and their patience paid off in the 65th minute with veteran player Vepeuotjari Kavari scoring the third goal to take the scoreline to 3-3.
Deep into the second half, OFA received a penalty and Michellino Hai-||Gâuseb converted to give his team a 4-3 lead, which they kept until the final whistle.
OFA Captain, Edrigu Pato #Gaeseb said after the match they thought they had the game in their hands, but somehow dropped their urgency.
“We were well on track to win the game easily, but we relaxed and allowed our opponents back into the game. Although we collected three points today doesn’t mean that we have wrapped up things as we still have a lot of games to play,” #Gaeseb said.
Pietersen, who captained Kunene NamPol on the day, said they started the game well but were caught by surprise.
“OFA started the game well and came at us hard, although we tried hard to press them high up the field. They scored two goals and we came back to score our free kick, but once they scored their third goal, our players dropped their play and we were punished in the later stage of the game,” Pietersen said.
OFA are now 33 points on top of the log, with Kunene NamPol in second with 24 points.

NAMPA