Times Of Swaziland: LEOPARD COMPLETE DOUBLE OVER RANGERS

LEOPARD COMPLETE DOUBLE OVER RANGERS
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Sanele Jele on 11/04/2022 08:24:00


NHLANGANO – They are on fire!
This is after Royal Leopard condemned Rangers to their 13 defeat of the season,
hammering them 3-0 at their own backyard in an MTN Premier League encounter
yesterday. The police ensemble completed a double over the Shiselweni based side
having won the reverse fixture 2-0 which was played on November 24, 2021. The
victory ensured that the Edwin Matsebula-led charges keep log leaders Mbabane
Highlanders at a touching distance. The ‘Black Bull’ beat Denver Sundowns
2-0 to maintain the top spot with 46 points while the defending champions are
second on 45 points. The loss for the hosts should worry them as they have
conceded seven goals within seven days. They were hammered 4-0 last Sunday at
Mayaluka Stadium and yesterday they conceded three more goals which were all
scored in the first half.
The visitors who started with Barry Steenkamp in front with Muzi ‘Mzoro’
Dlamini and Lungelo Tsabedze on the flanks scored four minutes the game. This is
after ‘Mzoro’ was hacked by Lindokuhle Dlamini inside the danger zone and
referee Thembinkosi Dlamini never hesitated but pointed on the spot. Junior
Magagula took the honours and converted from the spot sending goalkeeper Mduduzi
Mngometulu to the wrong direction. Rangers got a chance six minutes later to
level matters but Bongani Mvubu header saved by Leopard third choice keeper
Mlamuli Makhanya. Lungelo Tsabedze made it 2-0 after passing the ball into empty
net after unleashing a loop ball toward the advancing keeper in the 11th minute.
Leopard keeper was called into action again when he stopped a Sibonelo Mhlanga
volley five minutes before the half hour mark. Rangers’ Mzwandile Bhembe
thought his volley from the edge of the box was destined for goal but the ball
stuck on the waterlogged pitch and Leopard goalkeeper collected it with ease.
The away side added to their tally after a Barry Steenkamp cross was tapped in
by Lindokuhle Dlamini in a mis-kick attempt just three minutes after the half
hour mark. Despite that the hosts seemed to have an upper hand in the second
half none of their half chances materialised into goals. Noteworthy is that it
was drizzling through-out the game and it made it difficult to pass the ball as
the artificial pitch was waterlogged.