Nigel FC dump Bronco out of Shapiro Cup
Local side Bronco FC were knocked out of the Shapiro Cup by losing 2-1 to Nigel FC.
The away side secured their victory through a more improved second-half performance at Reiger Park’s WJ Stadium on Sunday, February 9.
Both sides went into the half-time break with the score at 0-0 following a cagey half, producing few clear-cut opportunities.
The visitors were the brighter side after the break and took their chance inside the 55th minute courtesy of forward Johannes “Gattuso” Motlhaping who rounded the Bronco stopper before guiding the ball to the far post, 1-0 to Nigel.
Nigel made it 2-0 moments later through striker John “Balotelli” Roos. The attacker took control of the ball from a delicious defence-splitting through ball, before burying it past the near post to double his team’s advantage.
Bronco midfielder Valender Koos pulled one back for his side, but it proved too little to deny the men from Nigel from booking themselves a semi-final birth.
Nigel went on to beat Samba Boys 2-0 in their semi-final encounter, which took place at the same venue on Wednesday, February 12.
Earlier during the weekend, two second-half goals from Naithan “Moerkas” Kater and Vigil Williams earned local side Bronco FC a 2-0 win over Benfica FC, which secured their place in the quarter-finals.
Bronco scored their two goals in quick succession after a sticky half-hour of the opening half, which saw both teams failing to put their chances away.
Attacker Kater broke the deadlock when he finished a well-worked move down the left-hand side of Benfica’s defence, before forward Williams made it two with less than a quarter of an hour remaining before half-time.
Benfica enjoyed the better share of the ball possession in the second-half and camped in Bronco territory in search of an early second-half goal, but a combination of resolute Bronco defence and missed chances kept them scoreless.
The missed chances did not derail Benfica who maintained the pressure, and it told when Bronco’s Donald received his marching orders from a second bookable offence.
The dismissal however, made little influence on the game’s complexion, as Bronco hung on to their 2-0 advantage to secure the win.
After the last 16 win, and despite the quarter-final loss, Bronco chairman, Albert Lottering, took the time to thank the team sponsors.
“We would just like to thank Market Car Sales owner Richard Kuit for all the support they’ve given to the team in the nine years that I’ve been working there,” said Lottering.
“We would also like to give a special thank you to Belinda du Preez who has been providing the team with brand new soccer balls for the last three years.”
