LEOPARD CLAW S. DREAMS FOR 1ST WIN

SITEKI – Defending champions Royal Leopard claimed their first win of the season over rookies Seven Dreams when they emerged as 1-0 winners in an MTN Premier League encounter, which was played on Sunday afternoon at KaLanga Technical Centre.

Ntokozo ‘Kiya’ Gamedze’s first-half goal proved to be the difference between the two teams in the entertaining encounter. Leopard looked to attack Seven dreams defence with pace from the first minute with speedster Fanelo Tsabedze causing havoc for the visitors’ slow backline. Fanelo beat his marker in the fifth minutes before playing a through pass for Mzoro, who had his shot over the crossbar. Thembisa Shabangu, Leopard’s main focal point in attack, had a shot just wide when getting sight on goal in the 12th minute.

Scoring

Menzi Shabangu had the chance to open the scoring charts for Seven Dreams after a lovely one-two with Phumlani Ngwenya in the 27th minute, but his shot from the edge of the area was too close to the goalkeeper and was saved by Royal leopard goalkeeper, Ncamiso Dlamini. Leopard continued to launch attacks through the wings which led to numerous shots from Sifiso Matse, Menzi Sithole and Thembisa Shabangu failing to hit the target. A quick throw ball by Fanelo to ‘Kiya’ led to Leopard’s goal which was well taken by the leopard right back who scored an arguable one of the best goals of the season to hand Leopard a 1-0 lead in the 34th  minute.

The two teams then attacked each other with neither side ready to sit back and allow the other to dictate terms. However, there were no clear cut chances as possession was given away cheaply in the final third with the half-time break approaching and   the police outfit were leading 1-0 at the interval. Leopard were the better side after the restart as they controlled the match and pushed for their second goal of the game. Substitute Lungelo Tsabedze who came in the hour mark with Mphumuzo Sangweni intensified pressure for the police side and Lungelo came close to scoring when his rasping shot from a free-kick in in the 77th minute was spectacularly finger-tipped over the crossbar by keeper Simiso Mabuza. The momentum was with Seven Dreams in the latter stages of the game as they pushed for a late equalising goal, but Sikhumbuzo Magagula failed to score from a free header in the 77th minute. Leopard’s first half goal would prove to be the game’s winner, as Seven Dreams slipped to their second successive MTN Premier defeat.

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