Joe Express started the new season with a bang, following their 5-0 victory over the defending champions, Magezi FC, in their ABC Motsepe League match at the Makwarela Stadium last Wednesday.

The game started an hour later than the scheduled 15:00 kick-off time, due to the unavailability of the match officials.

Express made an attempt to score two minutes into the game. Their overlapping midfielder, Moses Mafela, shot wide from inside the box after receiving a neat pass from his captain, Thembisani Nevhulamba. The keeper of Magezi, Thabiso Mabusela, was forced to work overtime throughout the first half. Mabusela blocked Simon Ramphabana’s close-range ground cutter in the 24th minute. He sustained a knee injury during the incident.

Mabusela was in the thick of things again 10 minutes later. This time around he braved Thembisani Nevhulamba’s half volley. No goal was scored during the first stanza.

Express were awarded a free kick just outside the box nine minutes into the last half. Thembisani Nevhulamba scored from the place kick with a half-volley. Magezi lost shape soon after the goal. Nevhulamba was on target again in the 64th minute, following a great pass from Simon Ramphabana.

As if they were leading, Magezi started to play defensive football and were severely punished for that. Nevhulamba completed his hat trick when he gave the ball the final touch after a scramble within the box.

The last two goals were scored by Simon Ramphabana. He flicked in the ball after a great pass by Nevhulamba in the 78th minute. Ramphabana beat the keeper again with a volley four minutes before the referee, Mr Daniel Rathogwa, blew the final whistle.