FC LIKHOPO strengthened their position in the Vodacom Premier League log with a 2-1 victory over the struggling Manonyane FC on Sunday at the LCS ground.

The win moved The Red Army up to the 12th spot from position 14 on log with nine points collected from 11 matches after winning twice, drawing thrice and losing six times.

Manonyane on 13th place also have nine points from the same number of games, what separates the Roma-based Premier League rookies from Likhopo is the goal difference.

The stressed Manonyane are just a point above the relegation zone, after losing two consecutive matches.

The visitors were the first to open the score-sheet on the fifth minute of the game through Tsotang Malesela.

Two minutes later, Likhopo’s Rorisang Maine picked out Leluma Posholi who sent a shot from far outside the 18 area and drove the ball home past Manonyane goal-minder Molibeli Seholoholo.

Manonyane had better ball possession in the first half but missed several chances. Likhopo capitalised on the missed opportunities and registered their second goal through Maine on the 34th minute.

The hosts came back from the second stanza of the match quite defensive, with less aggression than before.  

For their part, Freeze Ntene’s charges appeared to have lost the vigour with which they started the game as they hardly managed to make any more attempts at the opponents’ goals.

Things changed better for the visitors when they sent off Sello Sekike and Sanki Morie replacing them with Thabiso Possa and Ntlholi Ntlholi on the 80th minute.

But The Red Army’s impenetrable backline kept them at bay until Referee Motlase Leloko blew the final whistle.

In a post-match interview, FC Likhopo’s mentor Halemakale Mahlaha said he used many midfielders who are ball players and left only one in the midfield.