SABELLA TAKES ‘BULL’ TO QUARTER-FINALS

Highlanders................................(0)1
Sabella 52nd
Sea Birds....................................(0)0

LOBAMBA – Mbabane Highlanders forward Mohamed Sabella came from the bench to steer his side to the quarter-finals of the SwaziBank Cup yesterday.

The lone strike from the Ghana-born striker, who replaced a struggling winger, Sifiso Zwane, just when the game was 27 minutes old, was enough to eliminate the courageous Sea Birds, in a last 16 showdown at a nearly packed Somhlolo National Stadium.

It was just what the doctor ordered for the capital city giants after failing to go past the first two hurdles in the past instalment, losing by a solitary goal to rivals, Mbabane Swallows.
For a moment the boisterous home supporters thought the game would be decided through the dreaded penalty shoot-out as their stars could not trouble Bafana Ngwenya between the sticks for prolonged periods.

Sea Birds had done enough to deny the opposition room to operate and opted for direct attacks. There was no goal at the break, with Menzi Sithole’s lame attempt from a Xolani ‘Chocco’ Sibandze cross in the 41st minute the only notable shot on target.

Just when the game was approaching the hour-mark still goal-less, Sabella rose highest from a forest of bodies to head home a Sicelo ‘Junior’ Simelane cross from the right wing in the 52nd minute.
Gcina Dlamini’s troops never dropped their heads despite the setback as they tried to exploit some of the spaces in midfield.
Talisman, Muzi Tsabedze called goalkeeper Sidumo Vilakati into action with a teasing shot from close range in the 62nd minute.

While Highlanders also did enough to get into the opposition’s last third towards the end, their finishing left much to be desired.
However, it did not matter at the end as the sound of top referee, Simanga Nhleko’s final whistle meant Herbert Maruwa’s charges remained in pursuit of their third SwaziBank Cup trophy. Sea Birds, on the other hand, will pocket E10 000 for reaching this stage.  

They now have to concentrate on surviving the chop as they are at the basement of the standings.

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