Fairytale run ends

(At Mhlume Stadium)

Ezulwini United ………………(0) 0

Nsingizini Hotspurs ………..(0) 2

Quality 57^th, Neliswa 66^th

MHLUME – Nsingizini Hotspurs consolidated their position at the summit of the MTN Premier League with a composed 2-0 victory over third-placed Ezulwini United.

 This transpired in a tense top-of-the-table clash yesterday afternoon. The reigning MTN Premier League champions are now three points clear, with the E120 000 ‘carrot’ chase much more promising for the Shiselweni-based side. They have further ended Ezulwini’s impressive unbeaten run.

The visitors, Ezulwini United, kicked off proceedings in front of a passionate crowd at Mhlume Stadium, but it was Hotspurs who settled quickly.

Sambulo ‘Masoso’ Simelane forced the game’s first save from the Ezulwini goalkeeper Siyabonga Magagula with a firm drive in the 16^th minute, setting the tone for a dominant first-half display from the league leaders.

Hotspurs continued to probe patiently, creating the clearer openings and pinning Ezulwini back for long spells.

The hosting side, by contrast, struggled to find any rhythm going forward and failed to register a single clear-cut chance in the opening 45 minutes.

Only in the three minutes of first-half stoppage time did Ezulwini finally threaten, fashioning a couple of half-chances that briefly lifted their few supporters.

Despite the late flicker, the interval arrived with the scoreboard reading 0-0, a fair reflection of Hotspurs’ territorial superiority, but also of their inability to turn pressure into goals before the break.

Nsingizini Hotspurs restarted the second half and wasted little time asserting themselves once more.

The breakthrough arrived just 11 minutes after the restart and carried all the hallmarks of clinical substitution.

Yekisizwe Khumalo, introduced less than two minutes earlier, threaded a perfectly weighted pass through the Ezulwini defence and the alert Quality Dlamini raced clear to slot calmly past the advancing keeper for 1-0.

Nine minutes later, in the 66^th minute, the points were effectively secured.

Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and rifled an unstoppable drive into the top corner to make it 2-0, sending the home faithful into raptures.

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