Times Of Swaziland: SUNDOWNS SHOCK WANDERERS

SUNDOWNS SHOCK WANDERERS
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BY THEMBA ZWANE on 04/03/2019 02:02:00


(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
Manzini Wanderers…(0)0
Manzini Sundowns….(1)2
Ndumiso 14th, Frank 87th
LOBAMBA – Revenge is a dish best served cold! This idiom best describe how
Manzini Sundowns revenged against city rivals Manzini Wanderers here yesterday
during their EswatiniBank Cup last 16 game.
Sundown won 2-0 to proceed to the quarter-finals of the knockout tournament
before an impressive attendance at the stadium.
Two goals from each half were enough to see the ‘Kappa boys’ proceed to the
next stage of the tournament.
Last week, Wanderers beat Sundowns 2-0 at the same venue with both goals scored
by their trusted striker from the Republic of Congo (DRC) Mike Dombo.
This was during an MTN Premier League fixture and a week later Sundowns beat
them with the same score to boot them out of the EswatiniBank Cup.
Despite good combination play in the opening minutes of the game with Ghana-born
forward Johnson Mensah, Dombo had very little or perhaps none to offer during
the game.
Wanderers put pressure from the onset in search for a win but the opposition did
well to absorb the pressure.
The first test for ‘Downs’ goalkeeper Phila Mamba came in nine minutes into
the game where he tipped over the goalpost a Mancoba Maseko set-piece at the
edge of the box.
However, it was Sundowns who found their first goal a minute before the
quarter-hour mark. Ndumiso Shongwe’s diving header well beat Ncedo Mamba
in-between the poles for Wanderers.
The scorer connected an inviting Sandile Dlamini delivery from the left flank
and did the job.
It was a much improved Sundowns side from the previous week team that lost to
Wanderers.
At the 31st minute, Dombo was unlucky to have his header saved at point blank by
Mamba and many thought it was in. It was the most important save of the game for
the goalie.
header
The DRC striker had his header a few inches over the target a few minutes later
after a good Sicelo ‘Junior’ Simelane cross.
After recess, Wanderers continued to mount pressure but Sundowns kept the
defence solid with the assist of the captain Kingu Pemba.
The captain was actually exceptional for Sundowns and led by example.
As Sundowns continued to frustrate their rivals, tempers began to rise, referee
Thulani Sibandze had to caution Wanderers’ Mpendulo Ngidi and Sundowns’
Muhle Shiba after causing a commotion in the field of play.
Sundowns’ Siyabonga Dlamini could not believe his eyes to see his shot wide
after good dribbling as the team started playing more offensively.
It was Frank Antwi who nailed the last nail on Wanderers’ coffin when he
scored the winning goal three minutes from time.
He played from a Linda Maphalala classic pass to finish off and seal the victory
for Sundowns.