MALANTI DROWN MATSAPHA UTD IN ‘DEEP BLUE OCEAN’

(At Mavuso Sports Centre)

Matsapha......... ..................(0)0
Malanti.............................. (0)2
Molopo 46th pen, Potogo 47th

MANZINI - Somehow the wheels have come off. After a promising start to life with the big boys, Matsapha suffered their second defeat on the trot at the hands of a gallant Malanti Chiefs here under the Mavuso Sports Centre floodlights.

Two goals in quick succession immediately after restart from leading MTN League top scorer Charles Molopo and Potogo Mokoena were enough to sink Matsapha in the ‘Deep Blue Ocean’.

Mavuso Sports Centre used to be Matsapha’s favourite hunting ground but that has changed in a space of four days. First, it was Manzini Wanderers, courtesy of a Kola Aledeon lone strike, now the gold and black outfit from the timber town of Pigg’s Peak.

Glaringly, by a margin, Matsapha are toothless without influential midfielder Vusumuzi Zungu. There was no one stamping authority in midfield and Zungu was dearly missed as Malanti played as if their lives depended on the outcome of this match.
Following a goalless first that had a rasping Potogo shot 30 yards out bouncing on the cross bar as the only opportunity, all changed after the breather.

Referee Luck ‘Makalakalane’ Ndlangamandla confidently pointed to the spot a minute after resumption after Nigeria-born defender Jimoh Moses had pushed Lindokuhle ‘Ntolo’ Fakudze from behind in an attempt to win a high ball. Molopo stepped up to send Khanyakwezwe Shabalala between the Matsapha sticks the wrong direction for his eighth goal of the season.

The bulky forward has one hand on the E5 000 incentive for finishing top of the scorers chart halfway through the campaign. Barely 60 seconds later, Molopo released Potogo with a deft touch and his countryman made no mistake, slotting past an advancing Khanyakwezwe.

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