Home | Sports | ‘FASH’ NETS BRACE AS PIRATES IN LAST 16

‘FASH’ NETS BRACE AS PIRATES IN LAST 16

Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font

Tycoons............................................0
Pirates..............................................4
Fanelo 22nd, Bongani 34th, Fash 44th, 67th 

LOBAMBA – Defending champions Moneni Pirates did not need to sweat out much when they easily side-lined Hlatikhulu Tycoons in a one-sided SwaziBank Cup grand-opening match yesterday at Somhlolo National Stadium.


Pirates, or Emabhakaniya, as they are affectionately known, opened the scoring 22 minutes into the game with a fine tap in by the troublesome Fanelo Mamba who was set up by midfielder Junior Magagula on the right flank.
The goal seemed to take the steam off Tycoons who had been resistant for a while, despite taking a lot of heat from Pirates who attacked relentlessly with their silky possession football, making the game one-sided often times.


Just after the half-hour mark, midfield maestro Bongani Ndzimandze, who plays as if he is in his own pitch, made it two with an-edge-of-the-box shot after controlling well Thabiso Gumbi’s pass from the left wing to blast the ball past the goalkeeper into the far bottom right corner.


A minute before the break, Pirates, who were now getting little resistance, made it 3-0 through striker Mfanzile ‘Fash’ Ndzimandze who made no mistake when handed the chance to register in the scorers’ sheet when he powered home from close range.
‘Fash’ was on the brace in the 67th with a long range shot that beat the diving goalkeeper as the ball took a tiny bump to go just above him into the back of the net. It simply became training day for Pirates while Tycoons just had to take lessons and wait for the final whistle.


It could have been worse had Pirates used all the chances that came in their way but they also forced out the best of the opposition’s goalkeeper Sibusiso Simelane who made two reflex saves in the first half.
Otherwise, Tycoons were made to chase shadows for prolonged periods of the game even though they had started the game with little promise they could frustrate Pirates. However, the gulf in class and quality oozed by Pirates was just too much for the Lubombo Super League representatives affectionately known as Amatayitayi.


Pirates are now through to the last 16 round even though currently 14 teams are in it as two games are pending.

Comments (0 posted):

Post your comment comment

Please enter the code you see in the image: