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Shameful Leopards!

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Pedro Athletico.........................(2) 3

Jamanya 16th, Jobe 27th, Mathokoza (own goal) 46th

Leopards....................................(0) 0

MBABANE – Like all before them, Royal Leopards could not hoist the country’s flag against Angolan side, Pedro Atletico yesterday.

The Angolans whacked them 3-0 in a CAF Champions League match played in Luanda, Angola.

According to information from radio commentator, Moses Matsebula, who was broadcasting the game live from Luanda, the Angolan side was too good for Leopards, who struggled for the match’s duration.

That the Angolans were in an uncompromising mood was evident in the first half of the game. The home team drilled two goals in the opening 45 minutes, rendering the game over as a contest.

Pedro opened the scoring when the game was just 16 minutes old through a header from Jamanya. The goal seemed to confuse Leopards even more, as Matsebula in his commentary, highlighted that Leopards’ lone striker up-front, the bulky Mfanzile ‘Fash’ Dlamini, was failing to get any decent service. Instead it was midfielder Mathokoza Thwala, who came close to scoring for Leopards with some decent efforts. His efforts were, however, in vain, as his shots were either off target or were saved by the home side’s goalkeeper.

goal

Pedro’s second goal came three minutes before the half hour mark, when Jobe, who was said to be troublesome the whole afternoon, nodded home. Leopards goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini could do nothing to save the header and he was left sprawling on the turf.

As noted by Matsebula in his commentary, the Pedro Athletico players were good in high balls, owing to their physique. Leopards’ open chance came with only two minutes before the break, when ‘Tokyo’ Thwala’s well-taken shot was bravely saved by the goalkeeper. The teams went to the break with Pedro comfortably leading 2-0. Playing under very hot temperatures, Leopards continued to struggle as Pedro Athletico were enjoying the better of the ball possession. Leopards suffered a major blow, when their midfielder Mathokoza scored an own goal, while trying to clear the ball from the goal line. It was to be the last nail into the Leopards’ coffin and sadly nailed in by their own.

blew

The Zimbabwean referee blew the final whistle, with Pedro Athletico firmly in control, leading 3-0. The second leg of the tournament will be played on February 15 at Somhlolo Stadium. Leopards need to score at least four goals to advance to the next stage of the CAF Championships League. Leopards’ defeat comes after Malanti Chiefs were also beaten 1-0 by Athletico Maculmano of Mozambique, on Saturday during the CAF Confederation Cup in Maputo.

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