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01:00 11 Feb 12
An emotional Jomo Sono. Backpagepix
Cosmos back in PSL
Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00
Jomo Cosmos are back in the Premier Soccer League after they won the National First Division crown defeating Coastal Stream winners, Carara Kicks, 2-1 in their second leg NFD final playoff at the Vaal University of Technology Stadium on Sunday.
The first leg played in QwaQwa last Thursday, ended goalless.
Striker Evans Gwekwerere scored both goals for Cosmos - one
in each half.
Cosmos, who won the Inland Stream of the NFD, return to the top
flight after only one season in the lower league after being
relegated at the end of last season.
But they were made to fight all the way by the Coastal Stream
winners. Cosmos' greater experience and some superb goalkeeping
from veteran Avril Phali, helped Cosmos to victory.
The start of the match was delayed when Cosmos protested about
Carara Kicks striker Akeem Olubambiro, who was to came on as a
first half substitute. But the protest will not matter now that
Cosmos are back in the big time.
The match was entertaining with both sides going for brokeand
getting stuck in from the kick-off. The first half was evenly
fought.
The Free State club opened the scoring in the ninth minute when
Tsepho Tomanyane beat Phali with a brilliant shot. Cosmos levelled
the tie a minute later when former Moroka Swallows midfielder
Gwekwerere, stabbed home from close range.
Cosmos looked to have scored when Gwekwerere's header appeared
to cross the goalline before More palmed the ball out of danger in
the 22nd minute. But referee Charl Theron waved play on.
The second half was tightly contested with the winner coming
after More fumbled Gwekwerere's header in the 53rd minute.
Kicks threw everything forward but Cosmos' defence and Phali
held on to win the championship and promotion.
Kicks get another crack at playing in the PSL next season as they will go in to the
promotion/relegation playoffs later this month.