Free State Stars registered their first victory of the 2008/09 Absa Premiership season when they beat Bay United 3-2 at the Welkom Stadium on Sunday.
A cool finish in the 37th minute by Saitjheni Tsotetsi put Stars on their way to victory. Sthembiso Ngcobo doubled the hosts’ lead in the 49th minute and the hard-working Diyo Sibisi scored the winner seven minutes from full time.
Abayomi Adebayo and Jimmy Zakazaka netted in the 55th and 85th minute respectively.
Stars created more chances and could have won the game comfortably if not for some erratic shooting.
Tsotetsi, however, was composed when his chance came. A delightful pass by Sibisi set him up and the striker beat his marker and then coolly blasted into Arthur Bartman’s goal.
Bay played on the back foot and relied on counterattacks but Stars, buoyed on by a thousand fans, kept them pinned in their half.
Four minutes after the restart, Ngcobo smartly headed home a Duncan Lechesa corner kick and it seemed the Bethlehem-based outfit would cruise to victory. But the hosts went to sleep and they were punished. Lizo Genu hit the crossbar with a thunderous shot which Adebayo slotted in on the rebound.
Stars upped their tempo and Sibisi’s tireless running was rewarded when he pounced on a loose ball and drove it home. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Stars again lost concentration and allowed Bay back in the game.
Zakazaka’s spectacular overhead kick guaranteed a frenzied finish to the game as the PE team pressed hard for the equaliser, but it was not to be.
Stars held on for their first win of the season and jumped to ninth place on the Premiership table. – Sapa