MIGHTY Gunners took an early lead in the MTC Premiership after a resounding 4-2 victory against Young Brazilians in Otjiwarongo on Sunday.
Young Brazilian looked sluggish in the first half, falling to a 2-0 deficit by half time, but they gave a better performance after the break and opened their account through Jantjies Vries, while Randall Thomas later added a second goal.
It was, however, not enough as Gunners wrapped up a comprehensive 4-2 victory through a brace by Pineas Jacob, while Abner Hauwanga and Elmo Kambindu scored one goal each.
The victory puts the Gunners at the top of the log with six points from two matches, while Young Brazilians are in seventh position on three points.
Their manager Kalus Simboya said they struggled to get going.
“We struggled at the beginning and Gunners totally outplayed us in the first half. We settled down and played good football in the second half, but we couldn’t breach the gap,” she said.
Simboya said they did not have a problem with the long distance they had to travel, but questioned why the match took place on a Sunday.
“We left Otjiwarongo at about 21h00 on Sunday and then travelled through the night and only arrived in Karasburg at about 06h00 this morning (Monday). Most of the players had to go to straight to work, so it’s not really desirable for us to play on Sundays,” she said.
Black Africa joined Gunners on six points after beating Okahandja United 1-0 away in Okahandja.
McCartney Naweseb scored the winning goal midway through the second half and BA managed to withstand Okahandja’s onslaughts, with Emilio Martin shining in defence, to hold on for the victory.
BA coach Paulus Shipanga said they should have won by a bigger margin.
“We could have finished off the game long before the end, we had so many chances, but we just couldn’t score. But overall my boys never gave up and played well as a unit,” he said.
“It’s still early days though and there is a lot of work to be done,” he added.
Tura Magic travelled to the coast and collected a valuable point with a goalless draw against Blue Waters, which sees them moving up to third place on four points.
Eleven Arrows joins them on four points after beating defending champions African Stars 1-0 in another match at Walvis Bay’s Kuisebmond Stadium. Arrows’ new Zimbabwean striker Leroy Munyorove scored the winning goal in the first half.
Stars are now one of three teams on three points, along with Young Brazilian and Julinho Sporting, who came from behind to beat Civics 3-2 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.
Salazar Ngunzu gave Civics the lead, but Ntjamba Haindaka equalised for Julinho from the penalty spot just before half time.
Julinho took the lead after the break with a spectacular bicycle kick by Markie Muwana, but Deon Kibit once again equalised for Civics with 15 minutes to go.
Julinho, however, had the last say when substitute Veiko Sindimbe scored from a counterattack in the dying minutes of the match to give them a valuable victory on the road.
At the SKW Stadium, Tigers and Orlando Pirates played to a 1-1 draw.
Tigers’ national striker Muna Katupose gave them the lead on 30 minutes when he smashed a loose ball in the box into the net, but Pirates equalised with quite a fortunate goal by Jay Jay Kordom who sent a cross in from the right wing which flew high over the goalie’s head and just dipped into the net.
It was Tigers’ second consecutive draw and they are now in mid-table on two points, while it was Pirates’ first point which puts them amongst six clubs on one point each at the bottom of the log.
In another match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Sunday, Unam and Citizens played to a 2-2 draw.
It was Citizens’ second draw which puts them on two points, while it was Unam’s first point of the campaign.
The Premier League continues with several mid-week games at the Sam Nujoma Stadium this week.
Log leaders Mighty Gunners travel to Windhoek to take on third-placed Tura Magic on Tuesday night; Orlando Pirates host Blue Waters on Wednesday night, while Tigers take on Black Africa on Thursday evening.
