‘TOKYO’S GOAL TAKES LEOPARD TO SEMIS

Leopard...........................................1
‘Tokyo’ 76th
Malanti............................................0

LOBAMBA – A late second half strike by enterprising midfielder Mathokoza ‘Tokyo’ Thwala was enough for Royal Leopard to make it to the semi-finals of this year’s Castle Premier Challenge Top 8 Knockout tournament.

Tokyo came off the bench at the start of the second half to ensure coach-less Malanti Chiefs did not progress and his introduction added some mobility that had been lacking on the part of his team but since he replaced striker Barry Steenkamp they looked more dangerous going forward.

He struck in the 76th minute from the edge of the 18 area box after he was nicely set up by teammate Mthunzi ‘Xavi’ Mkhontfo following a combination of passes between him and Muzi ‘Mzoro’Dlamini.
It was a superb strike that had power as it grazed the turf to land in the far low left corner of the net, leaving the  goalkeeper Vusi Ginindza sprawling on the turf. It was a half in which Malanti did not do much as they did in the first half and looked fatigued as the game entered the last 15 minutes.

Leopard at this time were passing the ball at will and showboating and even their coach Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane had to get off the bench and scream at his players, the likes of Sabelo Sangweni and Tokyo, as the game was not over.
The police side were the deserved champions after all as they also hit the woodwork two times. Winger Juries Gama was first to suffer the misfortune when scoring looked all so easy, then it was Tokyo who would have had a brace had this effort with his outside foot gone in.

The first half started with both teams showing some good combinations in midfield but it was Malanti who always looked exciting and threatening going forward. The Leopard defence, though, was also resolute and stood its ground.
There were two moments that had both sets of teams holding their breath as they nearly scored own goals that would have made it 1-all by half time. First it was Leopard defender Sifiso ‘Sushi’ Nkambule whose back pass with a header beat advancing goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini only to miss target by inches but a corner.

Then right winger Lindokuhle, who was back to defend from a Juries corner, saw his header go the opposite direction, forcing his goalkeeper Vusi Ginindza to dive across and parry out the ball for another corner kick.
Mphikeleli had already been forced to two good saves inside the opening 30 minutes by striker Manqoba Mavimbela from close range but the resultant corner kicks were fruitless.

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