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MALANTI RECORD 1ST WIN

28/08/2019 00:50:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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(At Somhlolo National Stadium)
M. Hot Spurs...............(0) 0
My. Chiefs...................(1) 1
Lindokuhle 32nd

LOBAMBA - A first half close range strike by gifted midfielder Lindokuhle Fakudze was enough to hand the gold and black side its first win of the MTN Premier League new season.

The lukewarm match was played under the floodlights last night at Somhlolo National Stadium before a handful crowd, including national team Sihlangu players who are in camp ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier match against Djibouti on September 4, next week.

Fakudze pounced inside the penalty area with a powerful finish after a failed clearance to give his team the lead after just the half-hour mark and eventually their first three points in three league games.

They edged the elite league returnees after a long time out but not without resistance especially in the second half.
There was not much to write about in the first half as the ball was mostly in the air.

However, Malanti were better in terms of possession while they both had half chances just like in the last period. It was Spurs that pressed from the recess but their first real effort was parried back into play by the goalkeeper Xolani Gama before the rebound was well wide.

fierce

Malanti responded with a fierce 25-yard free-kick drive by midfielder Innocent Jere but the Spurs goalie was equal to the task as he punched the ball out for a fruitless corner. This was all in the opening 10 minutes of the half.

Spurs made changes to their squad and it showed with the improved ball possession and kept their rivals in their own half for prolonged periods. However, their efforts did not pay out in the end as they once again left the pitch the losing team.

This was their third defeat in three games as they lost 0-4 to Young Buffaloes and 0-1 to Royal Leopard. Malanti had lost to rookies Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows and Moneni Pirates.