RESA sparkles in a spectacular win over Elspark
There are four games left in the Gauteng Development League (GDL) season and, at the top of the league standings, Highlands Park, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Remember Elite Sport Academy (RESA) all remain in with a shot at claiming the title.
On Saturday, RESA delivered a scorching 6-0 victory over Elspark United Academy. It was a vital win for the Vereeniging club, which will hold out hope that both Highlands Park and Sundowns drop points in their forthcoming games.
It took until late in the first half of Saturday’s match for RESA to take the lead, with Tshepo Mofaladi striking after an assist from Onthathile Lemao.
In the second half, RESA raised their attacking intensity, and they were richly rewarded with five more goals.
The first arrived after only five minutes, with Kamogelo Mahlaba setting up Banele Radebe to score. Mahlaba provided another assist in the 79th minute, with Samukelo Mthombeni providing the finish, to make it 3-0.
Although he didn’t score, Sechaba Monkhe was instrumental in RESA’s handsome win. He laid on two assists for Bandile Sithole in the last 10 minutes, which lifted RESA into a five-goal lead. Surprise Malatji completed the rout by slotting a penalty.
Mamelodi Sundowns, meanwhile, kept their title challenge on track with a 2-0 win over the struggling School of Excellence, who lie a lowly 14th after 28 matches, having scored only seven wins, drawn five times, and lost 16 games.
The Brazilians bossed Saturday’s match, but they remain three points behind the table-topping Highlands Park, who have 71 points. The Lions of the North grabbed a hard-fought 2-1 win over East Rand Athletic Club.
SuperSport United and Randburg AFC, whose title challenges have fallen away in recent weeks, were involved in low-scoring contests, with SuperSport United sharing a 1-1 draw with Jomo Cosmos, while Randburg picked up three points after a 1-0 defeat of Panorama.
The University of Pretoria (Tuks) drew 2-2 with Seven’s Academy, Wits Junior beat Kathorus Hyper Academy 2-0, and the game between Kaizer Chiefs and TS Galaxy, scheduled to take place at the 3rd Square Stadium in Alexandra, was postponed due to concerns about the safety of the players on the raised pitch.
RESULTS
Saturday, 4 October
Jomo Cosmos 1-1 SuperSport United
Tuks 2-2 Seven’s Academy
RESA 6-0 Elspark United Academy
Highlands Park 2-1 East Rand Athletic
Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 School of Excellence
Wits Junior 2-0 Kathorus Hyper Academy
Sunday, 5 October
Randburg AFC 1-0 Panorama FC
