The trials and tribulations of talented Jomo Cosmos continued at the Germiston Stadium on Wednesday afternoon when the bottom club in the Premier League table tumbled to a tense, nail-biting 2-1 defeat against Dynamos.
Not even a revival in the final 30 minutes, when they reduced the two-goal deficit through a copybook goal from Liberian international Anthony Laffor, could rescue Cosmos from a third defeat at this early juncture of the season.
And with a solitary point to their credit from four matches, Jomo Sono’s under-achieving team must be having recurring nightmares of going through a similar relegation experience to that in which they barely held onto their Premier League status last season.
While Dynamos’ coach Lifa Gqosha proclaimed before the match that he would be ”happy with a draw” against cosmopolitan Cosmos, the Polokwane-based team gave every impression of being winners in the first half.
A mesmerising goal from Mpho Maleka in the 14th minute gave Dynamos the lead and a deceptive header from Rodney Tobojane caught Cosmos goalkeeper Avril Phali off-guard to make the score 2-0 in the 48th minute.
Cosmos reshaped their line-up with significant substitutions in a late bid to salvage the match and improved their performance dramatically — with long-serving Dynamos goalkeeper Arthur Bartman performing Herculean feats to keep his team in front as Laffour took control of the midfield.
And one reflex save from a Mokele Tsotetsi header will surely rate among the most impressive goalkeeping feats of the season. – Sapa