TAMBUTI ‘SOLO INJE’, U-20 CHAMPS

(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
Tambuti........................(1)2
Ndumiso 14th, Lindelwa 81st
Manzini Sundowns......(1)1
Langelihle 9th (pen)

LOBAMBA – A true champion is one that fights to the end.
This simple saying precisely defines Tambuti squad, who were yesterday crowned the champions of the under 20 EswatiniBank Cup tournament.

The Lubombo-based outfit defied all odds to emerge victors after an early setback in the game, where their trusted defender Mthokozisi Nsibande was red-carded and sent out for an early shower by referee Thandolwethu Gadlela, after using his hands to block a Tata Makwakwa shot inside the box.

The referee further awarded Sundowns a penalty, which industrious midfielder Langelihle ‘LD7’Dlamini converted to put the hub giants into the lead six minutes before the quarter-hour mark.
This did not deter the fighting spirit of Tambuti, who kept on pushing for the equaliser and their efforts were rewarded five minutes later.

Ndumiso Matsebula scored for Tambuti after nodding home a good ball, as a result of failure by Sundowns defenders to clear their lines, and the goalkeeper had the ball slip from his hands for the striker to superbly finish off. The ‘Christiano Ronaldo’ celebration and teammates’ jubilation was equal to the importance of the goal.

unlucky

Sundowns’ Zwakele Mngometulu was unlucky to have been caught off-side, otherwise he had netted the second goal for his team, but it was disallowed.
Matsebula should have found a brace and put Tambuti on the lead, but his shot was inches wide from the target.

Tambuti’s goalie Melusi Magagula made a crucial save, and parried off a Sibahle Sukati header connecting from a Dlamini set piece.
After recess, Mngometulu scored the second goal for Sundowns but it did not count from an off-side position three minutes into the second half.
changes
A few changes were made by both coaches in an attempt to change the game and find the winning goal.
It was, however, Tambuti who showed their intentions more in the second half.

Lindelwa Mngometulu missed an almost sure goal 32 minutes into the second stanza, when he failed to tap in a simple ball into the net when Sundowns’ goalkeeper Nkosing’phile Mathe was down on the pitch.
He, however, quickly rectified his mistake and scored a brilliant goal nine minutes before time, to seal Tambuti’s victory and see them take home the under 20 tournament grand prize of E45 000.
Sundowns will walk away with the runners-up consolation prize of E20 000.

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