UNAM beat Citizens

WINDHOEK, 05 APR (NAMPA) – University of Namibia (UNAM) Football Club beat Citizens 2-1 in a Namibia Premier League match played at Windhoek’s Sam Nujoma Stadium on Wednesday.
Man of the Match Hennie Isaacks scored one and created the other as UNAM moved to 42 points and jumped above Tigers to fifth on the log, albeit temporarily.
Tigers will play Tura Magic at the same venue on Sunday.
Isaacks opened the scoring as early as the 13th minute when he linked up with Tara Katupose and Manchester United MacGyver to place the ball into the net.
The former Brave Warriors captain continued to torment Citizens and almost scored the second goal at the end of the second half, but his effort was parred for a corner by an alert Jonas Matheus in goal for Citizens.
Osvaldo Vries tried to pull one back for his team after being put through by Upengisa Ujona but he shot over the bar.
Isaacks dominated the midfield showing his class and experience, with his timely running and accurate passing.
The second half saw Citizens replace the ineffective Castro Nuuyoma with hard running Henry Somseb, who injected some pace upfront for Citizens.
However, it was UNAM who scored their second when Isaacks beat four Citizens players before crossing for Katupose to head in and make it 2-0 for UNAM.
Citizens then upped the tempo and Somseb caught the UNAM defence napping before squaring for Vries to score his team’s consolation goal in the 90th minute.
UNAM coach Ronny Kanalelo bemoaned the fact that a match was scheduled two days after the Easter weekend, saying the teams did not have sufficient time to prepare.
“The league should have given us a week as most players returned late from the holiday break. Otherwise we had a good first half and Citizens really gave us a tough time,” he said.
Errol Damaseb, Citizens assistant coach, echoed Kanalelo’s view on the fixture being two days after the long weekend.
“We conceded two soft goals in every half. The boys tried to get back but it was late. The next two games will determine our destiny in the 2017/2018 season,” he said.
Civics will play African Stars on Friday at the same venue, while Young African plays Black Africa on Saturday at Legare Stadium in Gobabis.
Young Chiefs will play Chief Santos at the Oshakati Stadium, while Eleven Arrows play Blue Waters at Kuisebmond Stadium in Walvis Bay.
Mighty Gunners face Rundu Chiefs at Mokati Stadium in Otjiwarongo, while there is a double-header at Sam Nujoma Stadium with Orlando Pirates playing Life Fighters and Tura Magic playing Tigers.

NAMPA