Diarra Gasossou’s goal in the 71st minute ensured that Jomo Cosmos collected all three points on offer when they beat Santos 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match played at Rand Stadium on Wednesday night.

Both sides came into this clash with the intention of collecting all the maximum points on offer after they played to an one-all draw in their first round encounter in Cape Town.

As expected the opening few minutes of the match were dedicated to both sides sizing each other up and they were evenly matched.

The game changed as both teams upped their tempo and pace, with both sides aiming for an important early lead.

Santos made their intentions clear as early as the first minute when Romano Scott was set free inside the Cosmos’ danger area but he shot straight into the hands of Avril Phali.

Cosmos forced Santos to concede more than four corner kicks but failed to make use with Ousmane Berthe being the main culprit.

Santos’ Wayne Arendse also had a chance to put his side ahead in the 42nd minute but he fluffed it as well.

The home players were firing on all cylinders, but failed to make use of the countless opportunities they created.

Santos’ Scott and Erwin Isaacs, as well as Eleazar Rogers tormented the Cosmos’ defence, but the main problem on the night was how to get past Thapelo Tshilo and company, while Bamuza Sono, Ayo Oluwafemi, and Fanafuthi Bhembe combined well in midfield for Ezenkosi.

Both sides could have scored more than three goals in the first half if their finishing had not let them down.

Cosmos and Santos played attacking football in the second half as they went all out in search of that important opener,

Credit should go to Phali who brilliantly saved a bullet-like free kick from Graham King in the 53rd minute.

Cosmos retaliated with good move and Oluwafemi lashed out with a vicious drive that Santos’ keeper, Tshepo Motsoeneng, only managed to parry back into play, but Mogogi Gabonamong was quick to recover and cleared the ball for a corner in the 55th minute.

Isaacs could have done better in the 64th minute, but after beating an offside trap, the Santos striker shot straight into the hands of Avril Phali in Cosmos’ goal, much to the disappointment of coach Boebie Solomons.

While the Cape side were focusing on Siza Dlamini, he became the provider and Gasossou turned out to be the man who caused irreparable damage when he forced himself between two Santos defenders to open the scoring for the home side in the 71st minute.

The goal did wonders for the game as Santos refused to be demoralised and were forced to come out of their slumber and try some attacking options.

Towards the end of the match, Cosmos resorted to defensive tactics to keep the marauding Santos at bay but they nearly paid dearly when Phali was called to make two brilliant saves from the boots of Ryan Chapman and Bongi Macala.

Jomo Cosmos: Phali, Mhlathe, Tshilo, Berthe, Samb, Gasossou, Shitolo, Sono, Oluwafemi Hlalele, (Bucuane 69th) Bhembe (Dlamini 56th)

Santos: Motsoeneng, Ntloana, Van Beulen, W Arendse, Gabonamong, Ongao, T Arendse, Scott, (Chapman 66th) King, (Powell 72nd) Isaacs, Rodgers (Macala 78th)