(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Highlanders ………………(0)0
Pirates ………………………(0)0
MANZINI – Mbabane Highlanders and Moneni Pirates played out a frantic, but goalless draw at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday, leaving both giants outside the league’s top 10.
Heavy pre-match showers transformed the Mavuso turf into a skidding surface, yet both sides defied the elements with a blistering opening. Mbabane Highlanders thought they had secured a dream start inside 10 minutes when Merngas Mashwama’s low drive found the net, only for the celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag.
Moneni Pirates, led by new Coach Mathews ‘Chaka Chaka’ Mandlazi, looked vulnerable early on. Goalkeeper Qiniso Nyawo was forced into a superb reactionary save to deny the lanky Msimisi Zwane from point-blank range as the ‘Black Bull’ pressed for an opener.
As the first half progressed, the ‘Sea Robbers’ found their rhythm. The game became a showcase of defensive desperation. Bongumusa Fakudze spared Highlanders’ blushes with a goal-line clearance to deny Sibonelo Vilakati.
In the 37th minute, Sisekelo Maseko produced a stunning point-blank save to thwart Biko Sibandze.
Despite the end-to-end nature of the contest, international referee Sanele Ntimane blew for half-time with the deadlock stubbornly intact.
The second period struggled to match the electric pace of the first. Pirates began the brighter of the two, with Mthokosizi Hlatjwako testing goalkeeper Maseko early on. In an attempt to break the impasse, Mandlazi introduced forceful attacker Andile Mamba and Ivorian forward Bi Zahi Herve, though the latter’s nightmarish season continued as he failed to find the clinical edge.
Highlanders lost Vusi Vilakati to injury, prompting the introduction of Mxolisi Hlongwane and Siwakhile Shongwe. While S’phiwe Hopewell Cele remained a constant menace on the wing, the final whistle confirmed a stalemate that serves neither side’s ambitions of climbing towards the mid-season ‘carrot’. This marks a fourth straight stalemate between the sides in the league, with the last three ending in a goalless draw.
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