Birds of a feather, win together
ALEXANDRA – Birds fly past a determined Nicko Taurus Football Academy Ladies during a Sasol Women League.
A nine-player Bluebirds Ladies came from two goals down to beat the maidens of the Sasol Women’s League, Krugersdorp side Nicko Ladies 3–2 at the Alexandra Stadium.
Two early goals from Nicko Ladies and an own goal by the visitors, left the Birds trailing 2–1 at halftime.
Read: Cape Town City’s Lebogang Manyama leads the scoring pack with 12 goals
Banyana baMalvin, as the Birds are fondly known to their avid followers in Alexandra, have now triumphed over Nicko Ladies in both legs of the league after thrashing them 3–1 in the first round.
Nicko Ladies started this game like a house on fire and Birds found themselves two goals down in just 30 minutes of play. Birds fluffed many scoring opportunities, the chief culprit being makeshift striker Ntsoaki Phala who wasted more than five clear-cut chances. The other was Birds skipper Nyatama Mnguni, who seemed indecisive in front of goal.
At times she would shoot herself when the opportunity demanded she pass it to an unmarked colleague while in other instances she would pass when she should have blasted it first time herself.
Lerato Makhanya opened the scoring for the Birds early in the second half to level the score at 2–2. This was
quickly followed by a strike from Mnguni, who redeemed herself and sealed victory for the Beautiful Birds.
Birds coach Malvin Khumalo said he was happy to have collected maximum points with a depleted squad due to injuries incurred at the recent Maimane Alfred Phiri (Map) Games, in which the Birds were beaten in the final hurdle.
Founder and coach of Nicko Ladies, Nicko Motshwane said his players panicked in the second half when the Birds came after them in search of an equaliser and winning goal.
Read: Rebels crowned new U17 champions of Map Games
“I tried to tell them not to panic and stick to their game plan and close them down, but all was in vain. I am happy we have achieved our short-term goal of staying in the league, as we’re currently sitting in position 11 on the 16-team table,” said Motshwane.
What do you think of the Birds game against Nicko Ladies? Tweet @AlexNewsZA to share your views
