‘BUFFS’ SKIN ‘BULL’ ALIVE!

Buffaloes..................................(1)4
Ndoda 18th, Mpendulo 64th, Phiwa 80th, Sandile 90+3
Highlanders.............................(1)1
Thabiso 35th (PEN)

LOBAMBA – Outplayed, outclassed and outfoxed! These were some of the adjectives that can best describe Mbabane Highlanders’ dreadful performance after they were torn to shreds by a clinical Young Buffaloes in yesterday’s blockbuster Ingwenyama Cup final.

Before tournament Patron, His Majesty King Mswati III and visiting former South Africa President Jacob Zuma, Buffaloes, who are unbeaten in 2019 and in 19 games in all local competitions, put up a great second half performance to shoot down the opposition with an unbelievable 4-1 scoreline at a packed-to-the-rafters Somhlolo National Stadium. 

Dominic Kunene’s men are the latest millionaires after claiming the E1.3 million first prize.
It was Buffaloes’ terrific duo of Sandile Gamedze and Mpendulo ‘Mpetha’ Dlamini, who orchestrated the ‘Black Bull’s downfall, with strikers Ndoda Mthethwa and Phiwa Dlamini also ensuring that Highlanders’ nine-year wait for silverware continued. All Buffaloes did was perfecting their transition play while the opposition was vulnerable on the flanks.

More than two thirds of the supporters at the stadium were expectedly backing the visiting team and jadedly dragged themselves out of the stadium after an unacceptable display by their favourite side.

It was a big missed opportunity after a questionable team selection which saw the forceful Menzi Sithole relegated to the bench, while Mthobisi Mngomezulu got the nod. Grafter Vusimuzi Zungu was deservedly substituted while the supply to talisman Thabiso Mokenkoane was completely shut down by the rigid Buffaloes defence marshalled by Siboniso  Mamba.

It was Ndoda who set a tone for a flawless outing, as he opened his team’s account before he was stretchered off with a knee injury.
The burly forward was at the end of the Lindo Mkhonta snap shot in the box to tap in the opener in the 18th minute, stunning the visitors’ supporters into silence.

Six minutes later Mthobisi Mngomezulu was provided with a glorious opportunity to restore parity but steered his effort wide from a Xolani ‘Chocco’ Sibandze cross.
The wait for a response was finally over for Highlanders just 10 minutes before the interval after ‘Mpetha’ floored ‘Sawa’ in the box. Thabiso Mokenkoane coolly converted the resultant spot kick to give the away side hope heading into the interval.

The teams were level-pegging during the interval, with Highlanders heaving a sigh of relief following an intervention by youngster Vusimuzi Vilakati, who made a goal-line clearance to foil a Mamba bullet header.

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