R. LEOPARD WIN, REMAIN 2ND

MANZINI – So near yet so far for Royal Leopard.

They were dealt a huge blow here yesterday when they failed to win the 2019 MTN Premier League despite winning 2-0 against Young Buffaloes. The police outfit finished the season on equal points with Green Mamba at 58 each but the latter were crowned champions on head-to-head rule. Green Mamba won 1-0 against Mbabane Highlanders to ensure they finished on top of the elite league log. Leopard threw all they had against the army outfit and deserved the win but it was not enough to clinch the title as they needed Green Mamba to at least draw against the capital city giants.

From the onset, ‘Ingwe Mabalabala’ attacked in numbers and they broke the deadlock eight minutes into the game through the boot of Lungelo Tsabedze. The twin player negotiated his way past two defenders and scored from an awkward angle after connecting a ground pass from Melusi Dlamini on the left channel to hand his team that all important goal and take the lead.The Dominic Kunene-led charges nearly found the equaliser a few minutes later but Wandile Shabangu’s well curled effort was inches over the target. He had cushioned a good Phiwa Dlamini short pass inside the opposition’s box.

Buffaloes captain and goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu’s acrobatic save stopped a Sifiso Matse well-crafted effort. A few minutes elapsed as the police side goalkeeper Phephisani Msibi complained of a waist knock, which others could argue was a time wasting trick since the score was in Leopard’s favour. Tampers started to rise as the game became physical and referee Thembinkosi Dlamini had a tough time to instil order and had to caution both Phiwa and Matse for a hard tackle against the army side striker where heated words were exchanged and the brawl attracted other players for a chaotic situation to ensue, which the referee and his assistants struggled to control. Both coaches opted for fresh legs after the recess as Edwin Matsebula sought to stretch the lead and never concede while Kunene searched for an equaliser.

Matsebula seemed to have made the right changes as Zweli ‘Mlilo’ Nxumalo, who came on for Bongani Ndzimandze, found the second goal for his team. What a stunner from 20-yards out, beating goalkeeper Gwebu on the far left corner from a set-piece. This was after a foul on Cameroon-born striker Charles Edoa-Nga which Matsebula’s troops capitalised on and scored the second goal for a comfortable lead 11 minutes before time. Leopard goalie Msibi had to make a few good saves to ensure his team won the game without conceding. Melusi had to clear the ball on the line to deny Buffaloes a goal as the army outfit pressed for a goal in the dying minutes of the game. Substitute Sanele Ngcamphalala was unlucky to have the ball bounce off his hand inside the box and to be penalised when he should have scored to have the game finish 2-0 in favour of Leopard.

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