(At Prince of Wales Sports Ground)
R. Swallows.......(0) 0
Red Rhinos........(0) 2
Sibusiso 46th, Sabelo 83rd (Pen)
MBABANE – Red Rhinos bolstered their title charge yesterday, leaving Royal Swallows mired in a desperate relegation scrap.
Rhinos, who have now hit the 40-point mark as they stand on 42 points, were forced to weather a storm for much of the match.
Despite the relegation-threatened host dominating possession for long periods, the Lubombo-based side showed their championship noble by finding the clinical edge when it mattered most during the fascinating MulaSport National First Division clash at Prince of Wales Ground.
The 2-0 victory kept Rhinos just a point adrift of the pace-setters, Pigg’s Peak Professionals.
Professionals faced on Viva Stumbo XI later on yesterday and cruised to a 3-0 win.
The difference on the day was purely down applying the finishing touch; Masundvwini played the better football and lacked the killer instinct in front of goal to succumb to a defeat during the week 22 fixtures.
This result left them rooted to the spot in the relegation zone, level on 16 points with table-proppers CK Survivors.
The first-half was a deadlock and a cagey affair where both sides leaned heavily on their veteran attackers. Swallows looked to Nhlanhla ‘Mshengu’ Kunene to break the lines, while the Rhinos relied on Sibusiso Mkhonta to find a way through the host’s rearguard.
After a scoreless opening period, the visitors finally drew first blood just seconds after the restart.
Former Manzini Wanderers attacker Phathizwe ‘Kati’ Mabuza delivered a pinpoint cross that Mkhonta headed home to give Rhinos the lead.
To their credit, Swallows refused to throw in the towel. They dominated the second half in search of a leveller, winning a succession of set-pieces but failing to hit the target.
As the clock ticked down, frustration began to boil over for Madoda Masuku’s men, who felt they were hard done by the referee, especially after the hour mark.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
Masundvwini Royal Swallows’ Simphiwe Dlamini hurdles grounded Red Rhinos’ Sibusiso Mkhonta in a desperate attempt to clear the ball during their MulaSport NFD game played at Prince of Wales Sports Ground yesterday. Rhinos won 2-0. (Pic: Nimrod Hlophe)