LEOPARD CLAW THEIR WAY TO TOP FIVE

MBABANE – Defending champions Royal Leopard beat 10-man Tambuti by 3-1 to topple Nsingizini Hotspurs for the fifth position in an MTN Premier League match played here yesterday.

Royal Leopard were comfortably the better side in the first-half, but could not make it count on the scoreboard  until the 27th  minute when right back Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Msibi pounced on a re-bound to clinically slot the ball into the net to make it 1-0. Tambuti responded with a quick attack but Phinda Ginindza’s well taken shot outside the box narrowly missed the target.

The visitors gifted Leopard a goal through Sanele Mngometulu, who beat his own goalkeeper with an easy goal as he failed to clear a harmless cross delivered from the right flank by Mlaba, two minutes before half time. Upon restart of the match, Tambuti stand-in coach Thandumhlengi Bhembe introduced Issa Serry for Lindelwa Mngometulu. It was the home team which made the first attempt at goal a minute into the second stanza through Lungelo Tsabedze, whose rasping shot nearly caught Tambuti goalkeeper Phila Mamba napping.

The change made by Bhembe seemed to be the right tonic for the Lubombo-based side as they took control of the game; no wonder they eventually scored the consolation goal through former national team Sihlangu defender Sikhumbuzo ‘Sikhulu’ Magagula, who beat his own goalkeeper Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini with a beautiful header as he was trying a back pass, which, however, seemed difficult for ‘Mbhonyo’ to deal with.

Tambuti’s Banele Shongwe thought to have scored his team’s second goal, but it was ruled for an offside, and a minute thereafter he was shown a red card for confronting the referee on the disallowed goal. The result saw the Edwin Matsebula-led side claiming the fifth position for the first time this season, dethroning faltering rookies Nsingizini Hotspurs. Man of the Match was Royal Leopard’s Junior Magagula. The former national team Sihlangu midfield maestro was at his element best in the middle of the park where he operated with ease and his passes found their desired destination.

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