(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Leopard …………….3
Hleliso 27th (P), Thikithi 38th, Teboho 90+3rd
Wanderers …………0
MANZINI – High-riding Royal Leopard added salt to the wounds of national first division (NFD)-bound Manzini Wanderers, brushing them aside with a comfortable 3-0 victory before a handful of spectators yesterday.
This was during an MTN Premier League week 27 encounter staged under clear yet cool Mavuso Sports Centre skies. The win keeps ‘Ingwe mabalala’ firmly in contention for the E210 000 prize designated for the team that finishes in fourth place this season. The police side have now accumulated 43 points from 28 games. Leopard next face log leaders Nsingizini Hotspurs before wrapping up their league campaign against Ubombo Sugar. Meanwhile, the Weslians remain stuck on 11 points ahead of their clash with Green Mamba at the KaLanga Technical Centre on Tuesday.
The opening 15 minutes saw both teams squander opportunities, with Leopard forward Sibonelo ‘Jekwa’ Simelane missing two clear-cut chances close to Fisokuhle Shongwe’s goalposts. Conversely, Weslians Captain Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko and Nhlanhla ‘Mashonisa’ Vilane combined for a clear opening, only to fire over the crossbar.
Leopard broke the deadlock in the 27th minute after Jekwa was upended inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot. The league’s leading marksman, Hleliso Gamedze, stepped up confidently to convert, stretching his impressive season tally to 19 goals. Gamedze is now just two games away from pocketing the E14 000 prize guaranteed for the elite league’s top goalscorer, sitting comfortably ahead of Tambankulu Callies’ Malangeni ‘Mashumi’ Dlamini, who has 15 goals.
In the 32nd minute, Mashonisa unleashed a shot on target that landed safely in the gloves of goalkeeper Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Makhanya. Leopard then doubled their advantage six minutes later through Thokozani ‘Thikithi’ Dlamini, who found the back of the net with an effortless finish. Wanderers missed a golden opportunity to pull one back in the 43rd minute when Siphamandla Dlamini found himself in a pocket of space, but his final effort dragged agonisingly wide of the target. The visitors went into the breather holding a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Leopard structural dominance continued into the second half, with Teboho ‘Juries’ Dlamini running the show and pulling the strings in midfield. Wanderers tried to mount a fightback through Mcondisi Ndzimandze, but struggled to test the opposition keeper. In the 75th minute, Manzini Wanderers’ Malwande Gwebu missed a glorious opportunity to reduce the deficit, leaving the few remaining Weslians fans in the stands echoing collective heartbreak.
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