‘BULL’ STOP LEOPARD, MAMBA ON TOP

(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
Highlanders............ (1)1
Mthobisi 19th
Leopard.................. (1)1
Sifiso 34th 
LOBAMBA – As the race for the MTN Premier League E350 000 first round ‘carrot’ heats up, the lead at the summit has changed hands.

After leading the pack since day one, Royal Leopard are now playing catch-up after a frustrating 1-all draw at Mbabane Highlanders here yesterday. After round five, it is Green Mamba, who are on top of the charts, after seeing off bottom-placed Mbabane Citizens in a dramatic 4-2 win. Caleb Ngwenya’s troops boast a flawless record of five straight wins.

Leopard, who dropped points for the first time in the new campaign, had only their unbeaten run to celebrate after yesterday’s feisty ‘Super Sunday’ clash before over 1 500 fervent spectators at Somhlolo National Stadium. They have now failed to beat Highlanders in three straight league matches following the Mbabane-based ensemble’s rare double in the past season.

For Highlanders, who only lost their opener against Mbabane Swallows on September 16, it was a missed opportunity to keep the leading pack in sight. While the animated ‘Bull’ fans were ready to roll a red carpet for their stars after the game, the result meant Highlanders were now seven points adrift of Green Mamba.

Leopard took longer to get off the mark and the home team, who welcomed back the influential Vusumuzi Zungu in midfield, first took the game by the scruff of the net, with Mthobisi Mngomezulu gifted the opener following a botched clearance by trusted defender Machawe Dlamini. The latter’s clearance in the box ricocheted off Sabelo ‘Sawa’ Gamedze and a nearby Mngomezulu did not need a second invitation to beat Phephisani Msibi with a low shot in the 19th minute. However, the former eventually limped off the field with an injury and his place was taken by Sidumo Shongwe. 

By the half-hour mark, the teams were evenly matched, and both goalkeepers were underemployed between the sticks.  However, it did not take long for Edwin Matsebula’s men to respond. Highlanders’ vertically-challenged goalkeeper Mxolisi Dlamini was left stuttering on the goal line following a Frank Dlamini curled free-kick from just outside the box and Sifiso Matse buried the ball into the net with a hard shot in a crowded box 11 minutes before the break. It was the last meaningful effort of the half, as the two teams were level-pegging during the interval.

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